International financial inclusion: some multidimensional determinants

The generalized access to financial services is a promising source of growth and social inclusion to reach “decent life for all”, just as is conceived in the development agenda in the Millennium Declaration and ratified in the 2030 agenda for sustainable development of the United Nations. Some groups in financial terms are more excluded than others: the poor, women, youngsters, and the inhabitants of far rural communities scarcely populated, tend to face a larger number of barriers to access these services. Recently created businesses and small ones face a greater number of insuperable obstacles. This paper analyzes the recent financial inclusion in the global scope, with special emphasis on SMEs. Its importance and meaning are deeply examined; some of its determinants are presented and tested, such as credit banking, through a model based on panel data. It is found that, given some country cultural traits linked to their risk aversion and long-term vision, achieving a larger financial inclusion on the credit side, depends not only on the access channels and the characteristics of the offered products, but on different demand aspects as some socioeconomic features of their potential customers.