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Sex, language and financial inclusion

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  • Francis Osei‐Tutu
  • Laurent Weill

Abstract

Reference to gender in language can lead individuals to draw distinctions between genders and reinforce traditional views of gender roles. To test our hypothesis that language gender marking exerts an influence on the gender gap in financial inclusion, we draw on data for 117 countries in the World Bank's Global Findex database and perform logit estimations at the individual level. We find the gender gap in the probability of owning a formal account, having access to a formal credit, as well as having savings in a formal financial institution is higher for countries with gendered languages than for countries with genderless languages. These findings are confirmed in robustness checks that control for alternative measures of culture and estimations at the country level.

Suggested Citation

  • Francis Osei‐Tutu & Laurent Weill, 2021. "Sex, language and financial inclusion," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(3), pages 369-403, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:ectrin:v:29:y:2021:i:3:p:369-403
    DOI: 10.1111/ecot.12262
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    Cited by:

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    4. Abiodun Omidiji & Nives Botica Redmayne & Dimu Ehalaiye & Ernest Gyapong, 2024. "Internal audit in microfinance institutions‐ evidence from transitional and developing economies," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(1), pages 109-141, January.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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