Households’ access to financial services: some evidence from survey data

Abstract

Many studies look at financial inclusion from the supply side. The discussion in those studies revolves around the different types of financial services being developed to provide the excluded segment of the population with access to such services and the evolving regulatory frameworks supporting those innovative financial services. 

This paper views financial inclusion from the perspective of households who use financial services and asks what factors determine access to financial services. It provides a quantitative estimation of the factors affecting household decision to participate in the formal financial markets and the impact of the utilization of financial services on household incomes. It uses micro-data from the Annual Poverty Indicators Survey in the estimation. 

The empirical findings provide useful information for designing policies and interventions to foster inclusive finance. It points to financial education of households as a key intervention in financial inclusion strategies.

JEL classification: D14, G21