What is Driving Women’s Financial Inclusion Across Countries?

What is Driving Women’s Financial Inclusion Across Countries? PDF Author: Ms.Corinne C Delechat
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1484344553
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 31

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Book Description
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.

What is Driving Women’s Financial Inclusion Across Countries?

What is Driving Women’s Financial Inclusion Across Countries? PDF Author: Ms.Corinne C Delechat
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1484344553
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 31

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Book Description
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.

Women, Business and the Law 2018

Women, Business and the Law 2018 PDF Author: World Bank Group
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN: 1464812535
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 627

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Book Description
How can governments ensure that women have the same employment and entrepreneurship opportunities as men? One important step is to level the legal playing field so that the rules for operating in the worlds of work and business apply equally regardless of gender. Women, Business and the Law 2018, the fifth edition in a series, examines laws affecting women’s economic inclusion in 189 economies worldwide. It tracks progress that has been made over the past two years while identifying opportunities for reform to ensure economic empowerment for all. The report updates all indicators as of June 1, 2017 and explores new areas of research, including financial inclusion.

Can Gender Empowerment Promote Financial Inclusion For Women

Can Gender Empowerment Promote Financial Inclusion For Women PDF Author: Siyi Wang
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Political planning
Languages : en
Pages : 98

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Book Description
This paper analyzes the variation in access to and use of financial services for women in approximately 120 countries. Using panel data from the Global Financial Inclusion Index (Global Findex 2017) on account ownership and use of digital payments, I find that gender empowerment can promote financial inclusion for women. Applying cross-country regressions, my results confirm that in countries where women account for a larger share of the labor force and are politically empowered, there will be an increase in the number of women who own an account, and make or receive digital payments. In line with these findings, my study indicates that there is a positive correlation between years of education and women's demands for financial services. Furthermore, my analysis supports the notion that some of the cross-country variation in female account ownership and use of digital payments can be explained by gender norms-related legal protections, such as non-discrimination in employment and equal ownership rights to property. At the same time, the findings of my analysis indicate that lack of security for women, for example as a result of intimate partner violence, significantly prevents women from reaping the benefits of financial inclusion. From a policy perspective, my thesis contributes to a growing literature that studies the relationship between gender empowerment and women's financial inclusion.

Inequality in Financial Inclusion and Income Inequality

Inequality in Financial Inclusion and Income Inequality PDF Author: Goksu Aslan
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1484328728
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 32

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Book Description
We investigate the link between gender inequality in financial inclusion and income inequality, with three contributions to the recent literature. First, using a micro-dataset covering 146,000 individuals in over 140 countries, we construct novel, synthetic indices of the intensity of financial inclusion at the individual and country level. Second, we derive the distribution of individual financial access “scores” across countries to document a “Kuznets”-curve in financial inclusion. Third, cross-country regressions confirm that our measure of inequality in financial access is significantly related to income inequality, above and beyond other factors previously highlighted in the literature.

Women in Finance: A Case for Closing Gaps

Women in Finance: A Case for Closing Gaps PDF Author: Ms.Ratna Sahay
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1484377206
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 42

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Book Description
Women are underrepresented at all levels of the global financial system, from depositors and borrowers to bank board members and regulators. A new study at the IMF finds that greater inclusion of women as users, providers, and regulators of financial services would have benefits beyond addressing gender inequality. Narrowing the gender gap would foster greater stability in the banking system and enhance economic growth. It could also contribute to more effective monetary and fiscal policy. New evidence suggests that greater access for women to and use of accounts for financial transactions, savings, and insurance can have both economic and societal benefits. For example, women merchants who opened a basic bank account tend to invest more in their businesses, while female-headed households often spend more on education after opening a savings account. More inclusive financial systems in turn can magnify the effectiveness of fiscal and monetary policies by broadening financial markets and the tax base. The paper also studies the large gaps between the representation of men and women in leadership positions in banks and in banking-supervision agencies worldwide. It finds that, shockingly, women accounted for less than 2 percent of financial institutions’ chief executive officers and less than 20 percent of executive board members. The analysis suggests that, controlling for relevant bank- and country-specific factors, the presence of women as well as a higher share of women on bank boards appears associated with greater financial resilience. This study also finds that a higher share of women on boards of banking-supervision agencies is associated with greater bank stability. This evidence strengthens the case for closing the gender gaps in leadership positions in finance.

Gender Equality and Inclusive Growth

Gender Equality and Inclusive Growth PDF Author: Raquel Fernández
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1513571168
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 50

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Book Description
This paper considers various dimensions and sources of gender inequality and presents policies and best practices to address these. With women accounting for fifty percent of the global population, inclusive growth can only be achieved if it promotes gender equality. Despite recent progress, gender gaps remain across all stages of life, including before birth, and negatively impact health, education, and economic outcomes for women. The roadmap to gender equality has to rely on legal framework reforms, policies to promote equal access, and efforts to tackle entrenched social norms. These need to be set in the context of arising new trends such as digitalization, climate change, as well as shocks such as pandemics.

Financial Inclusion Across Asia

Financial Inclusion Across Asia PDF Author: Leong Choi-Meng
Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing
ISBN: 1837533067
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 170

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Book Description
Topics discussed in this collection include financial inclusion in under-served markets, financial inclusion products and services, financial inclusion for sustainable and responsible business, micro, small, and medium-sized business practices.

Women, Business and the Law

Women, Business and the Law PDF Author: The World Bank
Publisher: A&C Black
ISBN: 1472906454
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 199

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Book Description
Women perform 66% of the world's work, produce 50% of the food, but earn 10% of the income and own 1% of the property. To shed light on why this grim statistic still holds true, Women, Business and the Law aims to examine legal differentiations on the basis of gender in 143 of the world's economies. Women, Business and the Law tracks governments' actions to expand economic opportunities for women across six key areas: accessing institutions, using property, getting a job, providing incentives to work, building credit and going to court. The report uncovers legal differentiations for women and married versus unmarried women such as being able to register a business, open a bank account and work at night. These issues are of fundamental importance. When, because of tradition, social taboos or simple prejudice, half of the world's population is prevented from making its contribution to the life of a nation, the economy will suffer. The empirical evidence does suggest that, slowly but surely, governments are making progress in expanding opportunities for women. It is our hope that data presented in Women, Business and the Law will both facilitate research on linkages between legal differentiation and outcomes for women, and promote better informed policy choices on what governments can do to expand opportunities for women.

Is Digital Financial Inclusion Unlocking Growth?

Is Digital Financial Inclusion Unlocking Growth? PDF Author: Purva Khera
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1513584669
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 30

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Book Description
Digital financial services have been a key driver of financial inclusion in recent years. While there is evidence that financial inclusion through traditional services has a positive impact on economic growth, do the same results carry over for digital financial inclusion? What drives digital financial inclusion? Why does it advance more in some countries but not in others? Using new indices of financial inclusion developed in Khera et. al. (2021), this paper addresses these questions for 52 developing countries. Using cross-sectional instrument variable procedure, we find that the exogenous component of digital financial inclusion is positively associated with growth in GDP per capita during 2011-2018, which suggests that digital financial inclusion can accelerate economic growth. Fractional logit and random effects empirical estimation identifies access to infrastructure, financial and digital literacy, and quality of institutions as key drivers of digital financial inclusion. These findings are then used to help inform policy recommendations in areas related to the digitization of financial services to promote financial inclusion.

The Promise of Fintech

The Promise of Fintech PDF Author: Ms.Ratna Sahay
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1513512242
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 83

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Book Description
Technology is changing the landscape of the financial sector, increasing access to financial services in profound ways. These changes have been in motion for several years, affecting nearly all countries in the world. During the COVID-19 pandemic, technology has created new opportunities for digital financial services to accelerate and enhance financial inclusion, amid social distancing and containment measures. At the same time, the risks emerging prior to COVID-19, as digital financial services developed, are becoming even more relevant.