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Studies of gender inequality have usually focused on income, employment and education. This study, drawing on individual-level asset data for Ecuador, Ghana, and Karnataka, India, analyses the patterns of asset ownership between men and women. The gender gaps in assets and wealth differ from country to country depending on the type of asset examined, but generally favour men. In Ghana and Karnataka not only are women less likely to own assets, but they generally own assets that are less valuable, leading to a large gender wealth gap in favour of men. In Ecuador, where joint ownership of property acquired during marriage is the norm, the gender wealth gap is minimal. This study suggests that data on asset ownership is a useful measure of gender inequality and should be collected on a regular basis.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) by men against their partners is one of the most glaring indicators of women's lack of empowerment. Drawing upon the 2010 Ecuador Household Asset Survey (EAFF) and the 2010 Ghana Household Asset Survey (GHAS), nationally representative surveys for Ecuador and Ghana, respectively, this study investigates the relationship between women's ownership of assets and physical and emotional abuse by spouses against currently partnered women over the previous twelve months. It uses the value of a woman's total assets compared to those of her partner as the main proxy for a woman's bargaining power. Differentiating between physical and emotional violence in both countries, the study finds that women's share of couple wealth is significantly associated with lower odds of physical violence in Ecuador and emotional violence in Ghana. Moreover, the association between women's share of couple wealth and IPV is contingent on the household's position in the wealth distribution.

An extensive literature focuses on how the inheritance of property is biased against women in many developing countries, yet relatively little attention has been given to other means of acquiring physical assets, such as the market. Using individual-level data from Ecuador, Ghana, and Karnataka, India, we analyze the modes of acquisition and financing of housing, agricultural land, other real estate, and businesses. We find that women acquire fewer of their assets through the market than men. When they participate in asset markets, both men and women are more likely to use their own savings than to use credit. We also analyze current loans for asset acquisition and find different country patterns, but that women tend to be somewhat disadvantaged in securing formal bank loans. Our findings suggest that financial inclusion to promote the accumulation of assets should focus on both savings and credit with priority to the former.

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