Financial literacy and retirement planning in Sweden

2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 585-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOHAN ALMENBERG ◽  
JENNY SÄVE-SÖDERBERGH

AbstractWe use data from the Swedish Financial Supervisory 2010 consumer survey to look at levels of financial literacy and retirement planning in the Swedish population. The results indicate that many adults have low financial literacy. In general, financial literacy levels are lower among the young, the old, women and those with low income or low educational attainment. People who report having tried to plan for retirement have higher levels of financial literacy. In particular, an understanding of risk diversification is strongly correlated with planning for retirement. We relate our findings to features of the Swedish pension system.

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAVID BOISCLAIR ◽  
ANNAMARIA LUSARDI ◽  
PIERRE-CARL MICHAUD

AbstractIn this paper, we draw on internationally comparable survey evidence on financial literacy and retirement planning in Canada to investigate how financially literate Canadians are and how financial literacy is linked to retirement planning. We find that 42% of respondents are able to correctly answer three simple questions measuring knowledge of interest compounding, inflation, and risk diversification. This is consistent with evidence from other countries, and Canadians perform relatively well in comparison with Americans but worse than individuals in other countries, such as Germany. Among Canadian respondents, the young and the old, women, minorities, and those with lower educational attainment do worse, a pattern that has been consistently found in other countries as well. Retirement planning is strongly associated with financial literacy; those who responded correctly to all three financial literacy questions are 10 percentage points more likely to have retirement savings.


2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 637-656 ◽  
Author(s):  
SHIZUKA SEKITA

AbstractThe level of financial literacy is not high in Japan. Although a majority of respondents were able to correctly answer a simple question about interest rates, more than half were not able to correctly answer a question about risk diversification. Many respondents stated they did not know the answer to the financial literacy questions, which might indicate that Japanese are very cautious and only answer when confident in their response. Women, the young, and those with lower incomes and lower educational attainment have the lowest levels of financial literacy, and financial literacy increases the probability of having a retirement savings plan.


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamal Halili Hassan ◽  
Rohani Abdul Rahim ◽  
Fariza Ahmad ◽  
Tengku Noor Azira Tengku Zainuddin ◽  
Rooshida Rahim Merican ◽  
...  

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Problems have been identified pertaining to retirement scheme of the private sector employees in Malaysia where there is no legislated pension system in force. As a result of that, pension scheme and savings are more of a voluntary basis; although the principle is good but in practice many retirees suffer financially during their retirement. The objectives of this study are to examine factors contributing to individual’s retirement planning behavior and the private pension system in the private sector in Malaysia. Retirement planning behaviour in this study was measured with series of questions on behaviour about retirement planning. A total of 500 working individuals from private sectors in the age group of 40 years and above had participated in this study. The results identified several significant variables in the prediction of retirement planning among working individuals in Malaysia, including individual who had higher levels of education, higher levels of income, financial literacy, retirement goal clarity and attitude towards retirement. There is a correlation between retirement planning behavior and saving for old aged. As a response to the result collected from the survey, a legal proposition is put forward to address issues of pension during retirement among private sector’s employees.</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Sarpong-Kumankoma

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the impact of financial literacy on savings and retirement planning in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses primary data collected from a sample of formal sector workers and probit models, to assess how financial literacy affects retirement planning.FindingsThe empirical analysis of this study shows that most individuals lack knowledge of basic concepts of finance. This study finds that only about 27% of respondents were able to correctly answer three simple questions on inflation, interest compounding and risk diversification. Generally, the young, the old, women, low-income earners and the less educated perform worst on financial literacy measures. Also, financial literacy has a positive significant impact on the probability of saving for retirement.Practical implicationsThe low level of financial literacy observed should be of concern to policymakers. Evidently, concrete measures are required to strengthen the knowledge of particularly those in the vulnerable groups such as the young, the old, women, low-income earners and the less educated, in order to enable them to prepare adequately for retirement.Originality/valueThe study contributes to the scant financial literacy and financial behavior literature in developing countries such as Ghana.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 775-797
Author(s):  
Paola Bongini ◽  
Doriana Cucinelli

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the main predictors of university students’ intention to invest in a pension fund: an understanding of how young people perceive retirement planning is relevant for its policy implications. Design/methodology/approach The authors apply the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) proposed by Ajzen (1985) which explains how human behaviour is guided, and provides a framework to explore the underlying beliefs that affect one’s behaviours. Findings The evidence on a sample of Italian university students highlights that the TPB predictors, pension knowledge, money management and the highest level of financial literacy, positively influence their intention to invest in a pension fund. Research limitations/implications Although the authors are aware of the limitations of the analysis (limited to a specific country and to a specific financial product), the authors believe that the study has the merit of offering a number of ideas for further research. In fact, there are few contributions in the literature that identify the intention of young people to save for retirement. The study sheds light on this important issue. However, because it is limited to Italian university students, its findings cannot be generalised. Practical implications The study can be used by regulators, financial educators, counsellors and public institutions to increase the propensity of young people to plan for their future and guide them towards attitudes and behaviours most likely to increase their savings for retirement. Social implications The evidence suggests that regulators, institutions and educators should improve the information that is provided to families first and to the younger generations – at school, for instance – about the functioning of the pension system. The survey’s findings emphasise that university students are generally unaware of the many reforms to the system while believing that their state pensions will be sufficient to maintain a retirement standard of living that is the same as the standard of living achieved during their working lives. Originality/value In the authors’ knowledge, there are not studies that focus on the youngs’ intention to invest in a pension fund. The authors believe that millennials are the most hitted by the Fornero’s reform and understand which predictors affect this intention can allow to drive the decision in investing in these important financial tools.


2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 565-584 ◽  
Author(s):  
TABEA BUCHER-KOENEN ◽  
ANNAMARIA LUSARDI

AbstractWe examine financial literacy in Germany using data from the SAVE survey. We find that knowledge of basic financial concepts is lacking among women, the less educated, and those living in East Germany. In particular, those with low education and low income in East Germany have low financial literacy compared to their West German counterparts. Interestingly, there is no gender disparity in financial knowledge in the East. In order to investigate the nexus of causality between financial literacy and retirement planning, we develop an instrumental variables strategy by making use of regional variation in the financial knowledge of peers. We find a positive impact of financial knowledge on retirement planning.


Risks ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Chavis Ketkaew ◽  
Martine Van Wouwe ◽  
Ann Jorrisen ◽  
Danny Cassimon ◽  
Preecha Vichitthamaros ◽  
...  

Thailand recently reached “aged” society status, signifying that over twenty percent of the population is over sixty. Considering that Thailand has a low literacy rate, a fractured pension system, and no regulations that could provide sufficient income to cover basic needs after retirement, there will be economic repercussions if the situation is not handled soon. The government and financial institutions have been encouraging Thai citizens to prepare retirement plans but lack understanding of the root causes of being unprepared for retirement. The objectives of this qualitative research were to explore the behavior, knowledge, and preparedness towards retirement in governmental and private wageworkers. Moreover, the study aims to identify the pain points of being unprepared for retirement and deliver the optimal solutions and sustainable retirement plans suitable for each segment. This article employed a sample of 46 wageworkers in Khon Kaen, Thailand with ages ranging from 20 to 59 years old. Qualitative semi-structured in-depth interviews and qualitative content analysis were conducted with the respondents asking about their income, expenses, pains, and problems towards saving for retirement, their desired outcome after they retire, and how they would achieve it. The framework used for the in-depth qualitative interview was by utilizing the customer, problem, and solution zoom tool. The research contributions were to facilitate Thai citizens being ready for retirement stages and overcome post-retirement risks sustainably. The results revealed that the sample could be divided into four segments by their characteristics. Two low-income segments share the same traits and behaviors that can prove that financial literacy plays an essential role in retirement readiness. Lower-income wage workers do not have their money put in place to prepare for retirement. Additionally, this article discussed the study’s implications for wageworkers, employers, and the Thai government. This article recommended that Thai citizens should accumulate wealth in various ways, including investment in financial assets and earning additional income from a second job. Employers should provide suitable retirement contribution schemes. The government should launch a policy enabling above-60-year-old seniors to continue working.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 445-445
Author(s):  
Mengya Wang ◽  
Suzanne Bartholomae

Abstract Financial security in retirement is a major concern for many Americans. Numerous studies document that Americans are not prepared for retirement, with financial illiteracy cited as one reason Americans fail to plan. Employing data from the 2018 National Financial Capability Study (N=27,091), this study investigates actual financial literacy (AFL) and perceived financial literacy (PFL) and how combinations of this measure influences retirement planning, and varies based on years from retirement. This study found relatively low financial literacy and retirement preparedness levels among the US sample, even for those pre-retirees ages 55 to 64. Individually, PFL and AFL increased as one approached retirement. When combined, adults nearing retirement (55 to 64) comprised the greatest proportion of the high AFL and high PFL (29.9%) group compared to adults 20 years or more from retirement (18-44) who largely made up the low AFL and PFL (48%) group. Based on a logistic regression, adults closest to retirement (ages 55 to 64) are more likely to be planning compared to the other groups, as are adults who were financially confident, risk takers, highly educated, males, and white. Compared to adults with high AFL and high PFL, adults with low AFL and low PFL, or a combination (low PFL and high AFL, high PFL and low AFL) have lower odds of preparing for retirement. Both PFL and AFL influences retirement planning, and PFL may be as important as AFL. Our highlight the importance of policies and programs to support Americans with retirement planning.


2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
GILLES LE GARREC

AbstractIn most industrial countries, public pension systems redistribute from workers to retired people, not from high-income to low-income earners. They are close actuarial fairness. However, they are not all equivalent. In particular, some pension benefits are linked to full lifetime average earnings, while others are only linked to partial earnings history. In the latter case, we then show in this article that an actuarially fair pay-as-you-go pension system can both reduce lifetime income inequality and enhance economic growth. We also shed light on the dilemma between inequality and economic growth in retirement systems: greater progressivity results in less lifetime inequlity but also less growth.


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