Connection Between Gender Disparity in Financial Systems and Businesses

This chapter investigates the empirical link between gender equality in businesses and the financial inclusion of women. The main research question specifically focuses on the relationship between gender equality in access to financial instruments and loans and the share of women in businesses as owners or top managers. These two indicators are expected to be positively related. The chapter includes not only tabular and graphical analyses but also regression analyses. The empirical model controls for many different related variables, such as gender equality in education and the level of income. Gender-related business data are calculated from a firm-level database. The study covers the years 2011 to 2018 or 2021, based on data availability. Ninety-five countries from different income groups and regions are included. The findings, indeed, support the expected results that improvements in financial inclusion of females move in the same direction with the higher share of females involved in businesses. The findings of the chapter have useful policy implications, such as increasing the presence of women in businesses may require gender equality in financial inclusiveness. Policies enhancing the presence of females in financial systems can be a good starting point for gender equality in the business world.