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This presentation contributes to the understanding of financial inclusion in developing countries by presenting a theoretical model of financial inclusion, building on Becker’s 1965 theory of the household to incorporate intra-household bargaining. A World Bank survey, in which uniquely both the male and female heads of each household were interviewed, is used to examine the effect of individual and household characteristics on financial inclusion at both the individual and household level in two provinces in Papua New Guinea. Findings include that female-headed households are more likely to be financially included, that the education level is the strongest predictor of all measures of financial inclusion, and that female decisions to include are positively influenced by their more educated male partners but the reverse does not hold. Distance, location (urban or rural), and whether the individual speaks English are also significant predictors.

Speaker
Laura Nettuno, PhD Scholar, Vanderbilt University

Co-author
Dr Martin Davies, Associate Professor of Economics, Washington and Lee University

The ANU-UPNG seminar series is part of the partnership between the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy and the UPNG School of Business and Public Policy, supported by the PNG-Aus Partnership.