HCBE Faculty Articles

Title

THE INFLUENCE OF FINANCIAL INCLUSION ON DIMENSIONS OF WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT: EVIDENCE FROM KERALA STATE, INDIA, AND CHITTAGONG DIVISION, BANGLADESH

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1-2023

Publication Title

Journal Of International Finance And Economics

ISSN or ISBN

1555-6336

Volume

23

Issue/Number

2

First Page

5

Last Page

27

Abstract/Excerpt

This paper measures the impact of financial inclusion on women’s empowerment in Kerala State, India, and Chittagong, Division, Bangladesh. We define financial inclusion as the provision of savings accounts to the unbanked population. We found that women in Kerala participated fully with men in large purchase decisions in the post-financial inclusion period. Participation by all family members in household finance decisions increased in Chittagong, following the ownership of savings accounts by women. Mean differences showed increased participation by women in purchases of clothing, fuel, education, medical expenses, food, loan repayment, social and religious expenses, savings accumulation, furniture, and livestock purchases. Financial inclusion increased savings in both locations. Financial inclusion increased income, social consciousness, and psychological empowerment, respectively, in Kerala.

DOI

10.18374/JIFE-23-2.1

ORCID ID

0000-0003-4821-2857, 0000-0002-3144-7759

Link to Full Text
Peer Reviewed

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