Barriers and Opportunities for Women's Financing in Mexico's Primary and Rural Sector: The Role of Guarantees and Financial Intermediaries

This article presents evidence of the financing gap faced by women in Mexico's primary and rural sector. It analyzes credit access for female borrowers across different economic strata, developing a theory that connects credit history, the use of guarantees, and the role of financial intermediaries. The findings show that the effectiveness of guarantees and attention channels (financial intermediaries) varies significantly between strata. While FIRA and FONAGA guarantees increase financing in lower strata, their effectiveness diminishes and becomes counterproductive at higher levels. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of non-bank financial intermediaries in channeling credit to women in lower strata. Credit history emerges as a positive factor across all strata. This work lays the groundwork for future research on women's financial inclusion and underscores the need to adapt guarantees and intermediation strategies according to the specific characteristics of each stratum.