Gender and credit: Inequalities in loan size and credit repayment performance? Evidence from Mali

This study examines gender inequalities in loan sizes and explores potential discriminatory practices in the Malian credit market. Using data from a commercial bank, it first analyzes gender differences in loan size. To further assess treatment disparities, gender differences in credit repayment performance are analyzed and gender gaps across different numbers of loans investigated. The results show that female clients consistently receive statistically significantly smaller loans than male clients. Repayment performance findings are mixed: women are statistically significantly more likely to have small delays but statistically significantly less likely to have severe delays of over 30 days. These disparities suggest that loan officers may treat male and female clients differently, contributing to the literature on gender and credit in Mali. • Female bank clients consistently receive statistically significantly smaller loans than male clients, highlighting gender inequalities in access to credit in Mali. • Women are statistically significantly more likely to have small delays in credit repayment, but statistically significantly less likely to experience severe credit delays of over 30 days, suggesting nuanced gender differences in repayment behavior. • The findings provide critical insights into gender disparities in credit access and repayment performance, enriching the understanding of gender and finance in Mali.