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Gender and Financial Inclusion in Cameroon: An Analysis of Gender Gaps in Access to Formal and Informal Financial Services

Author

Listed:
  • Steve Douanla Meli
  • Benjamin Fomba Kamga
  • Hervé Mougnol A. Ekoula

    (University of Yaoundé II. Cameroon)

Abstract

This study aims to analyze gender gaps in access to financial services in Cameroon. More specifically, based on Global Findex data (2021) collected from 1,000 households by the World Bank Group, it attempts to use logistic regressions to analyze the factors that explain access to both formal and informal financial services by gender. Then, using the Fairlie decomposition method, she analyzes the gender gaps in access to these two forms of financial services, identifying the contributions of the different individual characteristics to the observed access gaps. The results first indicate that gender has a negative discriminatory effect, exclusively on the probability of accessing formal financial services. Second, they reveal a difference in access to financial services (52% for formal services and 46% for informal services) between men and women, explained by women's lower level of education, a lower standard of living reflecting a lower level of income and limited access to mobile money accounts and mobile phones compared to men.

Suggested Citation

  • Steve Douanla Meli & Benjamin Fomba Kamga & Hervé Mougnol A. Ekoula, 2023. "Gender and Financial Inclusion in Cameroon: An Analysis of Gender Gaps in Access to Formal and Informal Financial Services," The African Finance Journal, Africagrowth Institute, vol. 25(1), pages 85-101.
    • Handle: RePEc:afj:journl:v:25:y:2023:i:1:p:85-101
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    File URL: https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/ejc-finj_v25_n1_a5
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Access; Cameroon; Financial inclusion; Gender gaps;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • G2 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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