What drives financial inclusion in Central Africa?

Abstract

Despite financial inclusion gaining interestwithinpolicy-making spheres, Central Africa still lags below the global and Sub-Sahara Africa average in the penetration of financial services provision. This study sought to investigate the barriers and determinants of financial inclusion in Central Africa by using the 2014 Global Findex database. Using binary probit models, we found that financial inclusion is determined by age, gender, income and education levels. We also established that account ownership differs across gender. Key barriers to financial inclusion include distance, cost of opening an account and documentation.

Keywords: Financial Inclusion, Panel Analysis, Central Africa

JEL classification: G21, C23, C26