Browsing by Author "Hashoshange, Albertina Tuwilika"

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    An assessment of the effects of the gender gap on accessing finance in Namibia
    (University of Namibia, 2023) Hashoshange, Albertina Tuwilika
    This study focused on assessing the effects of the gender gap on accessing finance in Namibia. Cross-sectional data for the fourth financial Inclusion Survey of 2017 was used. The study used econometrics techniques of t-tests, Pearson Chi-square tests, and the probit model to examine the effects of the gender gap on access to finance. The t-test results revealed that for the transaction and payment services (TPS) Model, males' mean proportion of accessing finance was higher than females. Further, it was revealed that accessing finance through savings facilities (SF) was skewed towards males. The t-test results for credit access (CA) indicated a slightly higher mean proportion of finance access for females compared to males. Finally, the results of the t-test suggested that the mean of accessing finance through the formal financial product (FFO) for males was higher than that for females. Meanwhile, the probit results revealed a significant negative effect of gender disparity on access to finance through TPS and FFO towards males. However, for the models of SF and CA, a significant positive effect of gender disparity on access to finance was found for females. Meanwhile, when exploring the effect of gender disparity on access to finance across Namibian regions, it was found that for TPS, access to finance was lower amongst females across all the regions. For SF, it was found that there was a gender gap in access to finance across regions, with males having higher access to finance in most regions. Further, for CA it was discovered that with a few exceptions, men generally had higher access to finance than women across all regions. Finally, regarding FFO, it was revealed that access to finance was lower amongst females across all the regions. With this, it is recommended that with the gender gap in accessing finance, Abstract ii policymakers should implement policies that aim to reduce this gap. For instance, they can introduce gender-specific financial products, increase financial literacy among women, and provide financial support to women-owned businesses, specifically through TPS and FFO