Gender differences in access to financing for microenterprises in Morona Canton, Ecuador

Introduction: This article examines gender differences in access to financing for microenterprises in Morona Canton, Ecuador, within the context of social and economic inequalities that impact business development. Objective: To determine how gender influences the likelihood of obtaining financing, identifying the specific barriers faced by women microentrepreneurs. Methodology: A non-experimental quantitative design was employed using a Logit model to analyze data collected through surveys of 351 microenterprises, considering variables such as gender, productive sector, education level, experience, profits, productivity, and expenses. Results: The analysis reveals that women are 23% less likely to access financing compared to men, as reflected by an odds ratio of 0.77. Furthermore, being a woman reduces the probability of obtaining credit by 1.54%. Variables such as productivity and the number of employees positively influence access to credit regardless of gender. Conclusions: Women microentrepreneurs face additional barriers to accessing financing, possibly associated with limitations in support networks and business experience. The results emphasize the need for inclusive financial policies that promote gender equity in financing access and strengthen the growth of women-led microenterprises.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC

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