Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/243423 
Year of Publication: 
2021
Series/Report no.: 
WIDER Working Paper No. 2021/97
Publisher: 
The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), Helsinki
Abstract: 
Although Tanzania has made notable progress in enhancing access to financial services, the gender gap in financial inclusion persists. This paper examines gender disparities in financial inclusion in Tanzania using descriptive and regression analyses. While the advent of mobile phone money services has led to increased access to formal financial services, women still lag behind in access to and utilization of formal financial services. Based on FinScope Tanzania survey data for 2017, the empirical results show that women-especially married women-are less likely to access mobile money services and banking financial services compared with men. Similarly, women are less likely to save and borrow compared with men, with a higher percentage opting to keep cash at home or save with a saving group. The gender gaps in financial inclusion are attributable to factors such as lack of income, limited financial literacy, and lack of access to smartphones and other digital facilities. There is a need to be cognizant of gender differences in preferences. Policy initiatives to enhance access to digital financial services, improve women's education and financial literacy, and promote saving groups are critical to enhance women's access to formal financial services.
Subjects: 
gender
financial inclusion
mobile money
Tanzania
JEL: 
G00
G21
G23
G5
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
ISBN: 
978-92-9267-037-5
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
542.34 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.