ISSN 2712-0554 Heritage and Sustainable Development Original Research Vol. 6, No. 1, March 2024, pp.197-218 https://doi.org/10.37868/hsd.v6i1.370 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) that allows others to share and adapt the material for any purpose (even commercially), in any medium with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal. 197 Decent work, financial inclusion, and economic growth: Analysis under the SDG 8 Chokri Zehri 1* , Bendahmane Mohammed El Amin 2 , Amina Kadja 3 , Zgarni Inaam 4 , Habib Sekrafi 5 1 Department of Finance, College of Business Administration, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia 2 Department of Economic Sciences, Faculty of Economics, Management and Commercial Sciences, Tissemsilt University, Algeria 3 Department of Economic Sciences, Abdelhafid Boussouf University Center Mila, Algeria 4 Department of Accounting, Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Sfax, Tunisia 5 Laboratory for the Valorization of Natural and Cultural Heritage (VPNC), University of Jendouba, Tunisia *Corresponding author E-mail: c.alzhari@psau.edu.sa Received Jan. 21, 2024 Revised Mar. 13, 2024 Accepted Mar. 20, 2024 Abstract We investigate the potential influence of decent work and financial inclusion on economic growth, aligning our analysis with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8). Analyzing a diverse set of 26 low-income, 20 middle-income, and 15 high-income countries, we utilize a dynamic fixed-effect panel data approach and apply the Generalized Method of Moments from 2010 to 2021. The findings highlight that favorable conditions for decent work and increased access to digital financial services contribute positively to economic growth. The synergistic effect of these SDG 8 components is notably pronounced in high-income countries, with greater potential for elevated economic growth rates. Conversely, no discernible impact is observed on the economic growth of low-income countries. The results for middle-income countries present nuanced coefficient outcomes, offering a more intricate interpretation of their economic dynamics. An extensive impulse-response analysis, conducted using a Panel Vector Autoregression model, demonstrates distinct impacts of shocks related to decent work and financial inclusion across various income categories of countries. Our findings pass various robustness checks, affirming their reliability and suggesting significant policy implications for recognizing the crucial role of decent work and financial inclusion in fostering economic growth. © The Author 2024. Published by ARDA. Keywords: Decent work, Financial inclusion, Digital, Economic growth, SDG 8 1. Introduction The Global Sustainable Development Agenda 2030, adopted by all United Nations Member States in September 2015, strives to promote decent work (DW) and economic growth (EG), with the International Labor Organization (ILO) playing a crucial role in advocating these objectives [1]. DW is defined as employment conducted under the principles of liberty, fairness, safety, and human dignity, which is essential for the well- being of individuals and serves as a crucial driver for sustainable EG. Access to decent and adequately