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Women helping women? Female local official and gender gap in bank credit

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  • Liang, Weijuan
  • Tang, Mu
  • Wang, Yuanyuan
  • Ning, Bo
  • Chen, Jianing

Abstract

This study examines whether and how female local officials benefit female-led firms by focusing on the gender gap in bank credit. Using a sample of Chinese listed companies from 2007 to 2021, we find that female local officials can facilitate access to bank credit for female-led firms, particularly for long-term loans. Mechanism analysis reveals that female officials can reduce the impact of gender bias and provide greater policy support for female-led firms, thereby helping to narrow the gender gap in bank credit.

Suggested Citation

  • Liang, Weijuan & Tang, Mu & Wang, Yuanyuan & Ning, Bo & Chen, Jianing, 2025. "Women helping women? Female local official and gender gap in bank credit," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:71:y:2025:i:c:s1544612324013965
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2024.106367
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Bonvino, Claudio & Bosio, Andrea Odille & Giudici, Giancarlo, 2025. "Gender disparity in the participation to equity crowdfunding campaigns," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    2. Qu, Zihao & Zhang, Guang, 2025. "The response of firm performance to female official leadership," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    3. Arjun Prakash & Inder Sekhar Yadav, 2026. "Institutional Quality and Women’s Employment: A Global Analysis of Economic, Demographic and Urban Influences," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 68(1), pages 1-33, March.

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