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Financial Inclusion, Human Capital, and Wealth Accumulation: Evidence from the Freedman’s Savings Bank

Author

Listed:
  • Luke C D Stein
  • Constantine Yannelis
  • Francesca Cornelli

Abstract

This paper studies how access to financial services among a previously unbanked group affects human capital, labor market, and wealth outcomes. We use novel data from the Freedman’s Savings Bank—created following the American Civil War to serve free Blacks—employing an instrumental variables strategy exploiting the staggered rollout of bank branches. Families with accounts are more likely to have children in school, be literate, work, and have higher occupational income, business ownership, and real estate wealth. Placebo effects are not present using planned but unbuilt branches, or for Whites, suggesting significant positive effects of financial inclusion.

Suggested Citation

  • Luke C D Stein & Constantine Yannelis & Francesca Cornelli, 2020. "Financial Inclusion, Human Capital, and Wealth Accumulation: Evidence from the Freedman’s Savings Bank," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 33(11), pages 5333-5377.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:rfinst:v:33:y:2020:i:11:p:5333-5377.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/rfs/hhaa013
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G51 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Household Savings, Borrowing, Debt, and Wealth
    • I22 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Educational Finance; Financial Aid
    • N21 - Economic History - - Financial Markets and Institutions - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
    • N31 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913

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