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The gender gap in over-indebtedness

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  • Meyll, Tobias
  • Pauls, Thomas

Abstract

We document a significant gender gap in over-indebtedness, as we find women to be less likely to become over-indebted even after controlling for risk attitude, financial literacy and socio-demographic characteristics. However, once we account for loan purposes the gender gap diminishes. Our findings highlight the importance to account for loan purposes when analyzing individuals’ debt behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Meyll, Tobias & Pauls, Thomas, 2019. "The gender gap in over-indebtedness," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 31(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:31:y:2019:i:c:s154461231830669x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2018.12.007
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    Cited by:

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    2. Cupák, Andrej & Fessler, Pirmin & Schneebaum, Alyssa, 2021. "Gender differences in risky asset behavior: The importance of self-confidence and financial literacy," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
    3. Hsu, Yuan-Lin & Chen, Hung-Ling & Huang, Po-Kai & Lin, Wan-Yu, 2021. "Does financial literacy mitigate gender differences in investment behavioral bias?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 41(C).
    4. Łukasz Kurowski, 2021. "Household’s Overindebtedness during the COVID-19 Crisis: The Role of Debt and Financial Literacy," Risks, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-19, March.
    5. Cesar Leandro, Julio & Botelho, Delane, 2022. "Consumer over-indebtedness: A review and future research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 535-551.
    6. Lourie, Ben & Nekrasov, Alexander & Yoo, Il Sun, 2023. "The impact of debt forbearance on borrowers’ financial behavior and labor outcomes: Evidence from student loans," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    7. Filipe Sardo & Elisabete S. Vieira & Zélia Serrasqueiro, 2022. "The role of gender and succession on the debt adjustments of family firm capital structure," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 12(2), pages 349-372, June.
    8. David Aristei & Manuela Gallo, 2021. "Financial Knowledge, Confidence, and Sustainable Financial Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-21, September.
    9. Azra Zaimovic & Anes Torlakovic & Almira Arnaut-Berilo & Tarik Zaimovic & Lejla Dedovic & Minela Nuhic Meskovic, 2023. "Mapping Financial Literacy: A Systematic Literature Review of Determinants and Recent Trends," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-30, June.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Gender; Over-indebtedness; Loan purpose; Financial literacy; Gender gap; Consumer debt;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth

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