Evolución de los determinantes de la inclusión financiera en Ecuador

Abstract

CONDITION FOR PUBLICATION OF PROJECT. The study analyzes the changes in the determinants of financial inclusion in Ecuador between 2017 and 2021, using microdata from the World Bank’s Global Findex. Its purpose is to identify the social and economic characteristics that influence access to and use of formal financial services, and to assess the impact of digitalization and the pandemic. It also seeks to provide empirical evidence to guide policies aimed at reducing persistent inequalities between men and women, rural and urban populations, as well as across different income and education levels. The analysis was conducted through a quantitative, non-experimental design. Descriptive analyses, logistic regression models, and a difference-in-differences approach were applied. The main variables included account ownership, formal savings, access to credit, and the use of digital payments, contrasted with age, gender, education, income, and employment status. The results showed a general improvement in financial inclusion, with digital payments exhibiting the most significant growth. Education, income, and formal employment were confirmed as key determinants. However, structural gaps persist, requiring specific measures to advance toward more equitable and sustainable financial access. Keywords: Financial inclusion, digitalization, Ecuador, Global Findex, inequality.