Gender and Finance in Sub-Saharan Africa : Are Women Disadvantaged?

This paper assesses whether there is a gender gap in the use of financial services by businesses and individuals in Sub-Saharan Africa. The authors do not find evidence of gender discrimination or lower inherent demand for financial services by enterprises with female ownership participation or by female individuals when key characteristics of the enterprises or individuals are taken into account. In the case of enterprises, they explain this finding with selection bias -- females are less likely to run sole proprietorships than men, and firms with female ownership participation are smaller, but more likely to innovate. In the case of individuals, the lower use of formal financial services by women can be explained by gender gaps in other dimensions related to the use of financial services, such as their lower level of income and education, and by their household and employment status.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Aterido, Reyes, Beck, Thorsten, Iacovone, Leonardo
Format:	Policy Research Working Paper biblioteca
Language:	English
Published:	2011-02-01
Subjects:	ACCESS TO CAPITAL, ACCESS TO CREDIT, ACCESS TO EXTERNAL FINANCE, ACCESS TO FINANCE, ACCESS TO FINANCIAL SERVICES, ACCESS TO FORMAL FINANCE, ACCESS TO SAVINGS, ACCOUNTING, BANK ACCOUNTS, BANK LOAN, BANK OFFICE, BANKING SERVICES, BANKING SYSTEM, BANKS, BARRIER, BIASES, BROAD ACCESS, BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT, CAPITAL ACCUMULATION, CAPITAL ALLOCATION, CAPITAL NEEDS, CITIES, COLLEGE DEGREE, COUNTRY FIXED EFFECTS, CREDIT CONSTRAINTS, CREDIT HISTORY, DEBT, DESCRIPTION, ECONOMETRICS, ECONOMIC GROWTH, EDUCATION LEVEL, EDUCATION LEVELS, EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, EMPLOYMENT, EMPLOYMENT STATUS, ENTERPRISE ACCESS, ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT, ENTRY BARRIERS, EXCHANGE RATES, EXTERNAL FINANCING, FEMALE, FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS, FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP, FEMALES, FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS, FINANCIAL EXCLUSION, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, FINANCIAL LITERACY, FINANCIAL MARKET, FINANCIAL MARKETS, FINANCIAL SECTOR DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL SECTOR POLICY, FINANCIAL SERVICE, FINANCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, FINANCIAL SERVICES, FINANCIAL SUPPORT, FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS, FINANCING OBSTACLES, FIRM GROWTH, FIXED ASSET, FLOW OF CAPITAL, FOREIGN OWNERS, FOREIGN OWNERSHIP, FORMAL BANK, FORMAL BANKING, FORMAL CREDIT, FORMAL FINANCE, FORMAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, FORMAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, FORMAL FINANCIAL SECTOR, FORMAL FINANCIAL SERVICE, FORMAL FINANCIAL SERVICES, GENDER, GENDER BIAS, GENDER DIFFERENCE, GENDER DIFFERENCES, GENDER DISCRIMINATION, GENDER EQUALITY, GENDER GAP, GENDER GAP IN ACCESS, GENDER GAPS, GENDERS, GEOGRAPHIC BARRIERS, GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP, HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD, HEADS OF HOUSEHOLD, HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS, HOUSEHOLD ACCESS, HOUSEHOLD INCOME, HOUSEHOLDS, HUMAN CAPITAL, HUSBANDS, INCOME DISTRIBUTION, INCOMES, INEQUALITY, INFLATION, INFLATION RATE, INFORMAL ECONOMIES, INFORMAL FINANCE, INFORMAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INFORMAL FINANCING, INHABITANTS, INHERITANCE, INSURANCE, INTEREST RATE, INTERNATIONAL BANK, INVESTMENT CLIMATE, INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES, LABOR MARKET, LACK OF ACCESS, LEGAL CONSTRAINTS, LEGAL INVESTMENT, LIMITED ACCESS, LOAN, LOAN APPLICATIONS, MACROECONOMICS, MARITAL STATUS, MARKET ECONOMY, MARRIED MEN, MARRIED WOMEN, MFIS, MICROCREDIT, MICROFINANCE, MOBILE PHONE, MOBILE PHONES, MONEY LENDERS, NEW BUSINESS, OBSTACLES TO GROWTH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN, OUTREACH, OVERDRAFT, OWNERSHIP RIGHTS, PENSION, PROPERTY RIGHT, PROPRIETORSHIP, PROPRIETORSHIPS, RURAL AREA, RURAL AREAS, SAVINGS SERVICES, SEX, SMALL BUSINESSES, SMALL ENTERPRISE, SMALL TOWNS, SOURCE OF INCOME, START-UP, START-UP CAPITAL, SUPPLY OF FINANCE, TAX, TAX LIABILITY, TRANSITION ECONOMIES, VENTURE CAPITAL, WIFE, WILL, WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS, WORKING CAPITAL,
Online Access:	http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20110223113408 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3338
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