Gender differences in access to corporate financial services in Cameroon

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue X, October 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

Gender differences in access to corporate financial services in Cameroon

Gael Fokam, Christelle MAPA, Mathurin ISSABE
Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Dschang,
Dschang, Cameroon

Abstract : The inclusion of all segments of the population in the formal financial system has become a major concern for governments and global financial institutions in the current economic environment. This concern is reflected in an improvement in the quality and access to trained financial services adapted to different social strata. The objective of this study is to determine the factors that explain access to credit and the elements that influence gender (male or female) in the demand for bank credit by businesses in Cameroon. To do this, we adopted the logistic regression technique as an estimation technique and the data retained for this study come from the IDRC survey on the determinants of the performance of companies in Sub-Saharan Africa over the period from 2011 to 2012. , case of Cameroon. The results show that the female gender is not disadvantaged in applying for bank credit. In addition, this study reveals that the type of business and the turnover positively and significantly influence access to bank credit. Such results would have the consequence of favoring the impregnation of women in the traditional financial circuit.

Key words: Access to credit, discrimination, gender, enterprise, women.

I.INTRODUCTION

In recent years, debates about gender in access to credit have been a major concern for some economists. Research in the area of gender differences has paid little attention to identifying and analyzing the financial needs and preferences of clients in Cameroon. It would seem, therefore, that gender has an influence on access to bank credit. In other words, one part of the population is discriminating in access to financial resources. Banks would therefore have a preference to grant more credit to male entrepreneurs and less to female entrepreneurs. This neglect or discrimination is detrimental to both the gender concept.
Nowadays, there is an abundant literature on the gender concept. As a result, some studies such as the one conducted in Morocco by BOUZEKRAOUI & FERHANE (2014) have come to a conclusion that allows to draw a portrait on the characteristics of women entrepreneurs and those of their companies for the case of Morocco. Their results showed that, Moroccan entrepreneurs are quite young, with higher education level and considerable professional experience; their companies are often related to the service sectors. But these women entrepreneurs face the problem of access to finance as an obstacle, the cost of wear and tear imposed on entrepreneurs as well as the required guarantees are the main difficulties encountered. Finance & Team (2012)

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