Decomposing the Gender Gap in Financial Inclusion: An Oaxaca–Blinder Analysis for Peru, 2024

The objective of this study was to quantify and decompose the gender gap in access to and use of financial services in Peru for the year 2024, distinguishing between the portion explained by observable characteristics and the unexplained component, which is associated with discrimination or differential returns. The methodology employed a quantitative analysis based on the National Household Survey (ENAHO), using weighted and unweighted Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition models on a representative sample of 14,240 household members. The explanatory variables included age, monthly household income, years of education, area of residence, marital status, employment status, and participation in social programs. The findings revealed a significant gender gap in financial inclusion of −2.16 percentage points, with the majority attributable to the unexplained component (−0.0724), indicating structural inequalities in the returns men and women receive from their characteristics. Variables such as years of education, monthly household income, and age had significant effects but yielded lower benefits for women. It is concluded that closing the gender gap in financial inclusion in Peru requires more than improving women’s individual characteristics; it also entails addressing differential returns and promoting gender-focused public policies that ensure equitable conditions in accessing the formal financial system.