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Financial Inclusion, Human Capital, and Wealth Accumulation: Evidence from the Freedman’s Savings Bank

Author

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  • Luke C D Stein
  • Constantine Yannelis
  • Francesca Cornelli

Abstract

This paper studies how access to financial services among a previously unbanked group affects human capital, labor market, and wealth outcomes. We use novel data from the Freedman’s Savings Bank—created following the American Civil War to serve free Blacks—employing an instrumental variables strategy exploiting the staggered rollout of bank branches. Families with accounts are more likely to have children in school, be literate, work, and have higher occupational income, business ownership, and real estate wealth. Placebo effects are not present using planned but unbuilt branches, or for Whites, suggesting significant positive effects of financial inclusion.

Suggested Citation

  • Luke C D Stein & Constantine Yannelis & Francesca Cornelli, 2020. "Financial Inclusion, Human Capital, and Wealth Accumulation: Evidence from the Freedman’s Savings Bank," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 33(11), pages 5333-5377.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:rfinst:v:33:y:2020:i:11:p:5333-5377.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/rfs/hhaa013
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    Cited by:

    1. Erel, Isil & Liebersohn, Jack, 2022. "Can FinTech reduce disparities in access to finance? Evidence from the Paycheck Protection Program," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 146(1), pages 90-118.
    2. William N Goetzmann & Christophe Spaenjers & Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh, 2021. "Real and Private-Value Assets [Gendered prices]," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 34(8), pages 3497-3526.
    3. Sen, Kanchan Kumar & Karmaker, Shamal Chandra & Hosan, Shahadat & Chapman, Andrew J. & Uddin, Md Kamal & Saha, Bidyut Baran, 2023. "Energy poverty alleviation through financial inclusion: Role of gender in Bangladesh," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    4. Yin, Zhichao & Wang, Rui & Wu, Xi, 2023. "Financial inclusion, natural disasters and energy poverty: Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    5. Nchofoung, Tii N. & Asongu, Simplice A. & Tchamyou, Vanessa S., 2024. "Gender political inclusion and inclusive finance in Africa," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 48(2).
    6. Hurtado, Agustin & Sakong, Jung, 2022. "The effect of minority bank ownership on minority credit," Working Papers 325, The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, George J. Stigler Center for the Study of the Economy and the State.
    7. Abedifar, Pejman & Kashizadeh, Seyed Javad & Ongena, Steven, 2024. "Flood, farms and credit: The role of branch banking in the era of climate change," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    8. Ying Liu & Haoran Zhao & Jieguang Sun & Yahui Tang, 2022. "Digital Inclusive Finance and Family Wealth: Evidence from LightGBM Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-19, November.
    9. Kouladoum, Jean-Claude & Wirajing, Muhamadu Awal Kindzeka & Nchofoung, Tii N., 2022. "Digital technologies and financial inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(9).
    10. Pierre Bachas & Paul Gertler & Sean Higgins & Enrique Seira, 2021. "How Debit Cards Enable the Poor to Save More," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 76(4), pages 1913-1957, August.
    11. Galiani, Sebastian & Gertler, Paul & Navajas-Ahumada, Camila, 2022. "Trust and saving in financial institutions by the poor," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    12. repec:hal:journl:hal-04660083 is not listed on IDEAS
    13. Jennifer L. Dlugosz & Brian T. Melzer & Donald P. Morgan, 2021. "Who Pays the Price? Overdraft Fee Ceilings and the Unbanked," Staff Reports 973, Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
    14. Silva, Cinthya & Pino, Gabriel, 2024. "Financial inclusion and roof quality: Satellite evidence from Chilean slums," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    15. Aarakit, Sylvia Manjeri & Ntayi, Joseph M. & Wasswa, Francis & Buyinza, Faisal & Adaramola, Muyiwa S. & Ssennono, Vincent F., 2022. "The role of financial inclusion in adoption of solar photovoltaic systems: A case of Uganda," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 984-998.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G51 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Household Savings, Borrowing, Debt, and Wealth
    • I22 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Educational Finance; Financial Aid
    • N21 - Economic History - - Financial Markets and Institutions - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
    • N31 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913

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