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The Financial Literacy Gender Gap and the Role of Culture

Author

Listed:
  • Ute Rink

    (Georg-August-University Göttingen)

  • Yabibal Walle

    (Georg-August-University Göttingen)

  • Stephan Klasen

    (Georg-August-University Göttingen)

Abstract

This paper empirically investigates the role of culture in explaining the frequently reported differences in financial literacy between women and men. Using nationally representative survey data from India, we find that women are significantly less financially literate than men. This gender gap is not observable, however, when we only consider matrilineal states. Moreover, matrilineal women are more financially knowledgeable than patriarchal women. Using the Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition method, we find that education, English language skills and the use of different information sources, such as newspapers and TV, are key transmission channels in explaining differences in financial knowledge between men and women in patriarchal states, and between patriarchal and matrilineal societies.

Suggested Citation

  • Ute Rink & Yabibal Walle & Stephan Klasen, 2015. "The Financial Literacy Gender Gap and the Role of Culture," Courant Research Centre: Poverty, Equity and Growth - Discussion Papers 176, Courant Research Centre PEG.
    • Handle: RePEc:got:gotcrc:176
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    Cited by:

    1. Kim, Amee & Vanheusden, Frederique J. & Rashid, Mamunur, 2025. "Factors affecting UK household financial risk-taking and their implications for consumption of financial investments," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    2. Raquel Fonseca & Simon Lord, 2020. "Canadian Gender Gap in Financial Literacy: Confidence Matters," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 235(4), pages 153-182, December.
    3. Bukunmi Agboola, 2025. "Financial Inclusion in the Last Decade: A Systematic Literature Review," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(10), pages 9777-9793, October.
    4. Tabea Bucher-Koenen & Rob Alessie & Annamaria Lusardi & Maarten van Rooij, 2021. "Fearless Woman. Financial Literacy and Stock Market Participation," Working Papers 708, DNB.
    5. Antonia Grohmann & Annekathrin Schoofs, 2018. "Financial Literacy and Intra-Household Decision Making: Evidence from Rwanda," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1720, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    6. David Aristei & Manuela Gallo & Pierluigi Murro, 2025. "Financial Knowledge and Financial Fragility: Longitudinal Evidence from Italy," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 11(2), pages 667-702, July.
    7. Grohmann, Antonia & Filipiak, Ute & Heyerhorst, Franziska, 2017. "Intra-household decision making and long-term welfare effects: New empirical evidence," VfS Annual Conference 2017 (Vienna): Alternative Structures for Money and Banking 168140, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • I3 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty
    • Z1 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics

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