Abstract
The accelerated digitization of financial services has substantially reconfigured the way households plan,
allocate and monitor their resources. This study aims to analyze the impact of digital financial instruments on decision
making processes at household level, through a dual methodological approach: systematic review of the literature and
bibliometric analysis. The studies included in the analysis were selected from the Lens.org database, covering the
period 2006-2026. The bibliometric analysis, carried out with the support of VOSviewer, identified the main research
trends, co-citation networks and emerging thematic clusters. The results indicate an exponential increase in academic
interest in this topic since 2019, correlated with the expansion of the fintech ecosystem globally. The systematic review,
based on 27.680 selected articles, reveals that the adoption of digital financial instruments is associated with improved
saving behavior, reduced cognitive effects in financial decision-making, as well as better alignment between declared
intertemporal preferences and observed financial behavior. At the same time, the study signals significant moderating
effects of the level of digital financial literacy, access to technological infrastructure and socio-demographic factors.
The original contribution of the paper consists in synthesizing an integrated conceptual framework that connects
financial behavior theory, technology adoption theory, and behavioral economics, providing a comprehensive
perspective on the mechanisms by which financial technology mediates decisions. The implications of the study are
relevant for both financial inclusion public policies and end-user-oriented fintech product design.
allocate and monitor their resources. This study aims to analyze the impact of digital financial instruments on decision
making processes at household level, through a dual methodological approach: systematic review of the literature and
bibliometric analysis. The studies included in the analysis were selected from the Lens.org database, covering the
period 2006-2026. The bibliometric analysis, carried out with the support of VOSviewer, identified the main research
trends, co-citation networks and emerging thematic clusters. The results indicate an exponential increase in academic
interest in this topic since 2019, correlated with the expansion of the fintech ecosystem globally. The systematic review,
based on 27.680 selected articles, reveals that the adoption of digital financial instruments is associated with improved
saving behavior, reduced cognitive effects in financial decision-making, as well as better alignment between declared
intertemporal preferences and observed financial behavior. At the same time, the study signals significant moderating
effects of the level of digital financial literacy, access to technological infrastructure and socio-demographic factors.
The original contribution of the paper consists in synthesizing an integrated conceptual framework that connects
financial behavior theory, technology adoption theory, and behavioral economics, providing a comprehensive
perspective on the mechanisms by which financial technology mediates decisions. The implications of the study are
relevant for both financial inclusion public policies and end-user-oriented fintech product design.
Cuvinte cheie
digital financial instruments
household financial decisions
fintech
bibliometric analysis
systematic literature review
financial behavior
Istoric articol
Publicat
26.06.2026
Informații autori
Citare recomandată
ELENA IULIA NIȚESCU (2026). THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL FINANCIAL TOOLS ON HOUSEHOLD DECISION MAKING: A BIBLIOMETRIC AND SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW. Constantin Brâncuși University of Târgu Jiu Economics Series, 1(3), 386–391. https://doi.org/10.65631/jes.3.2026.36
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