Unlocking economic potential : women, finance, and the road to inclusion / K. Riyazahmed.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Riyazahmed, K., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Financial Services.

Physical Description:

1 online resource : illustrations

Place of Publication:

Los Angeles, CA : SAGE Publications, Inc., 2026.

Summary:

Women's economic development is broadly acknowledged as crucial for the inclusive and sustainable growth of an economy, but gender discrimination in accessing financial services is found in several countries and economies. For example, in countries like India, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Brazil, long-standing structural barriers continue to hinder women's financial success. Even after considerable steps taken to address such discrimination, women still face systemic barriers due to social and institutional factors. For instance, less collateral availability, differences in property inheritance rights, complex documentation, and strict lending procedures systemically impact women's access to formal credit. Likewise, social norms may hinder women's mobility and autonomy in decision-making, and a lack of financial knowledge may restrict women from using available financial facilities offered by commercial banks. These social norms persist despite improvements in account ownership and national inclusion efforts in countries such as India and Kenya. In many parts of rural India and Kenya, due to governmental efforts, a woman may have a basic bank account, yet she cannot visit the bank without the permission of a male family member, typically father, husband, brother, or son. As a result, even with an account, she often relies on men to withdraw money or access digital services, limiting her real financial autonomy (World Bank, 2022).With this background, this guide explores how improving women's financial inclusion could positively impact the economic potential and growth of their country.In particular, this guide focuses on the crucial role of how microfinance and self-help groups (SHGs) foster women's entrepreneurship and improve women's savings and asset accumulation. The guide also explores the significance of digital finance through fintech applications and how alternative credit scoring opens new ways to engage women in the formal financial system. In addition, the guide examines the significance of gender-neutral regulations, institutional frameworks, and community reform combined with data-driven digital strategies to address continuous exclusion. The guide also stresses the development of gender-inclusive financial products and services that reduce gender bias. By bridging these financial access gaps, countries can effectively improve productivity and promote economic inclusion that benefits society at large.

Notes:

Description based on XML content.

ISBN:

9798348869434

OCLC:

1616687163

Publisher Number:

T303533