Financial Inclusion, Gender and Economic Impact on Poor Households

Abstract

This primary research has examined the question: “In the context of gender dimension what is the evidence of the impact of the financial inclusion programs on poor households represented by women relative to that represented by men?”. We employ stratified random sampling methodology to encompass all the spheres of financial inclusion in India, and construct a comparison group using non-experimental data and econometric methods to solve the fundamental evaluation problem and for establishing ‘attribution’. The models of analysis are estimated with both panel least squares as well as generalized methods of moments using standard errors. The results indicate that the gender of the participating poor undoubtedly affects the outcomes of the financial inclusion programs.