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What is Driving Women’s Financial Inclusion Across Countries?

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Listed:
  • Ms. Corinne C Delechat
  • Ms. Monique Newiak
  • Rui Xu
  • Mr. Fan Yang
  • Goksu Aslan

Abstract

Using a broad set of macroeconomic country characteristics to supplement a new and comprehensive micro-level dataset for 140 countries, we identify structural factors, policies, and individual characteristics that are associated with financial inclusion—in general, and for women in particular. We find that structural country characteristics, such as resource-richness and level of development, and policies, such as stronger institutions, and financial development are significantly related to financial inclusion. We find a robust negative relationship between being female and financial inclusion as in previous studies, and our analysis points to legal discrimination, lack of protection from harassment, including at the work place, and more diffuse gender norms as possible explanatory factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Ms. Corinne C Delechat & Ms. Monique Newiak & Rui Xu & Mr. Fan Yang & Goksu Aslan, 2018. "What is Driving Women’s Financial Inclusion Across Countries?," IMF Working Papers 2018/038, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2018/038
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    Cited by:

    1. Sabyasachi Tripathi & Meenakshi Rajeev, 2023. "Gender-Inclusive Development through Fintech: Studying Gender-Based Digital Financial Inclusion in a Cross-Country Setting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-34, June.
    2. Muhammad Hussain & Farzan Yahya & Muhammad Waqas, 2021. "Does strong governance stimulate the effect of economic freedom and financial literacy on financial inclusion? a cross-country evidence," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Saibal Ghosh, 2020. "Financial Inclusion in India: Does Distance Matter?," South Asia Economic Journal, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka, vol. 21(2), pages 216-238, September.
    4. Xu, Xiaoyan, 2020. "Trust and financial inclusion: A cross-country study," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 35(C).
    5. Chavan, Pallavi, 2020. "Women’s Access to Banking in India: Policy Context, Trends, and Predictors," Review of Agrarian Studies, Foundation for Agrarian Studies, vol. 10(01), July.
    6. Azanaw Mengistu & Hector Perez-Saiz, 2018. "Financial Inclusion and Bank Competition in Sub-Saharan Africa," IMF Working Papers 2018/256, International Monetary Fund.
    7. Caroline PERRIN & Laurent WEILL, 2021. "No Men, No Cry? How Gender Equality in Access to Credit Enhances Financial Stability," Working Papers of LaRGE Research Center 2021-02, Laboratoire de Recherche en Gestion et Economie (LaRGE), Université de Strasbourg.
    8. Chandralekha Ghosh & Rimita Hom Chaudhury, 2019. "Gender Gap in case of Financial Inclusion: An Empirical Analysis in Indian Context," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 39(4), pages 2615-2630.
    9. Perrin, Caroline & Weill, Laurent, 2022. "No man, No cry? Gender equality in access to credit and financial stability," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 47(PB).
    10. Li, Xinghao & An, Lufeng & Zhang, Dayong & Lee, Chi-Chuan & Yu, Chin-Hsien, 2024. "Energy access and female labor force participation in developing countries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    11. Maureen Were & Maureen Odongo & Caroline Israel, 2021. "Gender disparities in financial inclusion in Tanzania," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2021-97, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).

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