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@article{204370,
        author = {Lekshmi Jayachandran and Dr Abhilash V S},
        title = {An Analysis on The Factors That Determine Credit Gap Among Women Entrepreneurs},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {13},
        number = {no},
        pages = {55-61},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=204370},
        abstract = {Women entrepreneurs play a crucial role in driving economic growth, generating employment and promoting social development. However, they continue to face a persistent credit gap in accessing institutional finance, which limits the growth, sustainability and expansion their business ventures. Despite various financial inclusion initiatives and policy measures, this gap remains a major challenge due to several interrelated factors. These include limited awareness of financial schemes, lower levels of education, inadequate business experience, lack of collateral security, complex banking procedures, and insufficient government support. Such barriers not only restrict access to formal sources of finance but also deepen the gender gap in financial inclusion. In this context, the present study focuses on identifying the key determinants that influence the credit gap among women entrepreneurs and examining how these factors affect their ability to obtain institutional credit. The study further seeks to prioritize these factors based on their relative significance in contributing to the problem. Data for the study were gathered from women entrepreneurs and stakeholders associated with financial access using a structured instrument, ensuring the collection of relevant and reliable information. To systematically evaluate and rank the identified factors, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is employed, utilizing pairwise comparison techniques based on Saaty’s 1-9 scale to determine the relative importance of each factor. The analysis highlights the most critical barriers that hinder financial accessibility and provides insights into areas requiring policy intervention and institutional support. By addressing these challenges, the study contributes to strategies aimed at improving financial inclusion and empowering women entrepreneurs, thereby fostering inclusive and sustainable economic development,},
        keywords = {credit gap, women entrepreneur, gender gap in finance, source of finance.},
        month = {June},
        }