Challenges in Access to Financial Credit for Women Micro-Entrepreneurs in Ecuador

Abstract

Introduction: Access to financial credit is key for the survival of microenterprises, but global gender gaps persist, disproportionately affecting women entrepreneurs. In Ecuador, multiple social, institutional, and economic barriers limit this access for women leading microenterprises.
Objective: To determine the main challenges faced by women micro-entrepreneurs in accessing financial credit in Ecuador, 2024.
Methods: A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional study was conducted. 153 women micro-entrepreneurs participated, selected through non-probabilistic quota sampling. A structured online questionnaire was applied, with high internal consistency (Cronbach's Alpha: 0.947).
Results: 50.98% of participants were between 30-49 years old. 50.33% resided in Santo Domingo. 49.67% reported secondary education and 67.32% (n=103) reported monthly incomes below $1,000. 46.41% of the businesses had been operating for 1-2 years and 60.78% had previously applied for credit. Regarding the dimensions, for "Cultural and social barriers," the most frequent response was "Sometimes agree" (35.9%). For "Financial and institutional factors," disagreement (23.5%) and "Totally disagree" (22.9%) predominated. For "Business capacity and preparation" (29.4% "Agree") and "Personal experiences and expectations" (26.1% "Totally agree"), positive assessments predominated.
Conclusions: The main barriers are a combination of social norms and gender biases, poorly adapted institutional requirements, and limitations in business management capacities.