Financial inclusion & gender perspective: APEC Member Economies

Abstract

Financial inclusion is the availability, affordability and accessibility of financial services, regardless of the level of income, location or gender. Despite the efforts and commitments of the international community to reach this state, there are still challenges, especially regarding the incorporation of minority groups and the transition to sustainable financial systems. Therefore, it is important to include a gender perspective in the economic and financial analysis because women face more barriers to access and be part of the benefits and opportunities of the financial system. The following text seeks to clarify the previous premises through an analysis of the advances or setbacks in terms of financial inclusion in APEC member economies and if this positively influences the progress of the Agenda 2030. In the first section, it contextualizes the reader on financial inclusion, why it is important from a gender perspective and why it is crucial for the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The following section presents statistical evidence on financial services in the countries of the region to identify achievements and blank spaces. Subsequently, is analyzed one of the alternatives to include the most vulnerable population in the financial system microfinance, and the advances of the region are shown in a series of good practices. Finally, is indicated a section of conclusions.