SPATIAL ECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF GENDER DIFFERENCES IN STOCK MARKET PARTICIPATION: EVIDENCE FROM TURKEY

This study employs spatial econometric analysis to investigate gender differences in stock market participation across Turkey, using data from 2011 to 2022. Leveraging province-based and gender-disaggregated data from the Central Registry Agency, we explore whether significant gender-based disparities exist among equity security investors in Turkish securities markets and whether these differences exhibit spatial correlations across 81 provinces. Initial findings suggest that while overall participation in financial markets has risen, substantial gender gaps persist, potentially influenced by socioeconomic, cultural, and educational factors. The research contributes to the broader understanding of gender inequality in financial inclusion and proposes implications for policy interventions to reduce gender disparities in economic participation.