Financialaccess and Household Welfare: Evidence from Mauritania

27 Pages Posted: 20 Apr 2016

See all articles by Alessandra Amendola

Alessandra Amendola

CSEF - University of Naples Federico II

Marinella Boccia

World Bank

Gianluca Mele

World Bank

Luca Sensini

CSEF - University of Naples Federico II - Centre for Studies in Economics and Finance (CSEF)

Date Written: January 11, 2016

Abstract

This paper evaluates the impact of access to credit from banks and other financial institutions on household welfare in Mauritania. Micro-level data from a 2014 household survey are used to evaluate the relationship between credit access, a range of household characteristics, and welfare indicators. To address potential endogeneity issues, the household isolation level is used to instrument access to credit. The results show that households headed by older, more educated people are more likely to access financial services, as are households located in urban areas. In addition, greater financial access appears to be associated with a reduced dependence on household production and increased investment in human capital.

Keywords: Social Development & Poverty, Financial Sector and Social Assistance, Regional Urban Development, Urban Economics, City to City Alliances, Urban Economic Development, Access to Finance, Urban Communities, National Urban Development Policies & Strategies

Suggested Citation

Amendola, Alessandra and Boccia, Marinella and Mele, Gianluca and Sensini, Luca, Financialaccess and Household Welfare: Evidence from Mauritania (January 11, 2016). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 7533, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2741188

Alessandra Amendola (Contact Author)

CSEF - University of Naples Federico II ( email )

Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132
Fisciano, Salerno 84084
Italy

Marinella Boccia

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20433
United States

Gianluca Mele

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20433
United States

Luca Sensini

CSEF - University of Naples Federico II - Centre for Studies in Economics and Finance (CSEF) ( email )

Via Cintia
Complesso Monte S. Angelo
Naples, Naples 80126
Italy

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