An assessment of the effects of the gender gap on accessing finance in Namibia
Loading...
Date
2023
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Namibia
Abstract
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
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of master in business administration- Finance
Keywords
Finance, Namibia, Gender gap