Mobile money and women’s decision-making power in India

Abstract

In this chapter, the authors use data from the Financial Inclusion Insights (FII) program to examine the association between mobile money and female decision-making power in India. Drawing on different proxies for female decision-making power, the authors show that awareness of, and the use of, mobile money is not sufficient to change behaviours and cultural norms. The authors argue that programs designed to encourage women to take up mobile money products will not be successful unless women actively utilise these bank accounts. The chapter provides some policy insights on how to promote empowerment using financial technologies in cash-based economies such as India.