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Not all that glitters is gold: financial access, microfinance and female unemployment in Sub-Saharan Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Simplice A. Asongu

    (Yaoundé, Cameroon)

  • Therese E. Zogo

    (Yaoundé, Cameroon)

  • Mariette C. N. Mete

    (Yaoundé, Cameroon)

  • Barbara Deladem Mensah

    (Yaoundé, Cameroon)

Abstract

The present study assesses the relevance of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in the effect of financial access on gender economic inclusion in 44 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for the period 2004 to 2018. The adopted empirical strategy is interactive quantile regressions that are tailored to account for both simultaneity and unobserved heterogeneity. Two MFIs dynamics are employed: MFIs per 1000km2 and MFIs per 100 000 adults. Financial access is measured in terms of female ownership of bank accounts while gender inclusion is in terms of reducing female unemployment. MFIs per 1000 km2 must reach thresholds of between 2.328 and 2.490 at the 90th quantile of the female unemployment distribution in order for female ownership of bank account to reduce female unemployment. The partial validity of the tested hypothesis is clarified and policy implications are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Simplice A. Asongu & Therese E. Zogo & Mariette C. N. Mete & Barbara Deladem Mensah, 2024. "Not all that glitters is gold: financial access, microfinance and female unemployment in Sub-Saharan Africa," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 24/036, African Governance and Development Institute..
    • Handle: RePEc:agd:wpaper:24/036
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Africa; Microfinance; Gender; Inclusive development;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General
    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa

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