Financial literacy among youth

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 173-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neha Garg ◽  
Shveta Singh

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the level of financial literacy among youth in the world based on previous studies. The study, particularly, focus at how socio-economic and demographic factors such as age, gender, marital status and income influence financial literacy level of youth and whether there is any interrelationship between financial knowledge, financial attitude and financial behaviour. Strong endeavour of the world economies to improve the financial well-being of their citizens has contributed to the rising importance of financial literacy as it equips the individuals to take quality financial decisions to enhance their financial well-being. Design/methodology/approach This literature review consists of seven key sections. The first section of this paper reviews the conceptual definitions of youth. Second part summarises the literature on financial literacy. Third, fourth and fifth section summarises the literature on the components of financial literacy, i.e. financial knowledge, financial attitude and financial behaviour, respectively. Sixth section reviews the empirical studies on the influence of socio-economic and demographic factors on financial literacy level. Seventh section summarises the literature on interrelationship between financial knowledge, financial attitude and financial behaviour. Findings The study reveals that the financial literacy level among youth is low across the most part of the world that has become a cause of concern. Also, it has been observed that various socio-economic and demographic factors such as age, gender, income, marital status and educational attainment influence the financial literacy level of youth and there exists an interrelationship between financial knowledge, financial attitude and financial behaviour. Originality/value Youth have to live a longer life ahead, thus, the decisions taken by them are going to affect them for a longer period of time, making it imperative for them to develop an understanding of the world of finance so as to avoid wrong choice of financial products. Thus, financial literacy is of significant relevance. This paper aims to understand the influence of various factors influencing the financial literacy as understanding the factors that contribute to or detract from the acquisition of financial literacy among youth can help in making policy interventions targeted at youth to enhance their financial well-being.

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiing Jia Loke

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to identify the determinants of the probability of living beyond one’s means. The paper also explores the coping mechanisms of those financially distressed as well as the debt taking behaviour of consumers. Design/methodology/approach – The study uses data obtained from the OECD International Network on Financial Education pilot study on Measuring Financial Literacy in 2010 for the case of Malaysia. A logistic regression model is used to identify the main determinants of the probability that a consumer will live beyond his/her means. The analysis is carried out by using a set of socio-economic factors and the individual’s financial behaviour and attitudinal characteristics as explanatory variables. Findings – The findings indicate that low income and seasonal income earners are more vulnerable to financial distress. Furthermore, having a higher education, higher financial knowledge and prudent financial behaviour and attitude do not necessarily translate into better financial management. Family and friends provide the main source of financial assistance in times of need. Research limitations/implications – The assessment of financial knowledge should go beyond individual’s knowledge on financial concepts and theories. Practical knowledge on financial and cash flow management should be assessed. Practical implications – The study reiterates the importance of financial education. It is imperative to include financial education as part of the schools’ curriculum and also to be incorporated as part of the Continuous Professional Development modules for working adults. Originality/value – The study is based on the first nationwide study of consumer finances in Malaysia. It contributes to the literature by integrating financial behaviour and attitudinal factors into the analysis of the ability of individuals to live within their means. The findings also show the limitations of the existing self-assessment of financial behaviour and attitude and the assessment of financial knowledge.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 934-950 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonore Riitsalu ◽  
Rein Murakas

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study how subjective and objective knowledge of finance, behaviour in managing personal finances and socio-economic status affect financial well-being. Design/methodology/approach The financial well-being score is constructed in quantitative financial literacy survey data from Estonia as the arithmetic mean of four statements on a five-point scale. Four hypotheses are tested in multiple regression analysis. Findings Subjective knowledge has a stronger relation with financial well-being than objective knowledge. Financial behaviour score and income level correlate with financial well-being. Research limitations/implications The paper contributes to literature on financial literacy, subjective financial knowledge and financial well-being. In future research, psychological factors and future orientated financial well-being should be included, and their relationship to subjective well-being could be analysed further. Practical implications The results highlight the importance of subjective knowledge and sound behaviour for improving financial well-being. Providers of financial services should address these more in the design of their services and communication. Social implications Policymakers developing national strategies for financial education need to address subjective financial knowledge for increasing financial well-being in society. Originality/value Knowledge, behaviour and subjective knowledge have not been used simultaneously in the analysis of financial well-being in Europe before.


Accounting ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 691-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rr. Iramani ◽  
Lutfi Lutfi

One of the main goals of every individual or household is to achieve financial well-being. Previous research has shown that various factors influence financial well-being. This research aims to develop an integrated family financial welfare model by examining various factors that affect it. This study uses data of 1,158 households taken using an online survey. The data is analyzed using a structural equation model. The results show that financial experience, financial knowledge, financial status, and marital status directly affect financial well-being. Financial behavior significantly mediates the influence of financial behavior, financial knowledge, and locus of control on financial well-being. Furthermore, marital status strengthens the effect of financial knowledge on financial well-being, but it does not strengthen the effect of financial experience on financial well-being. This study suggests that the Government and financial authorities need to improve further the effectiveness of financial literacy and financial inclusion programs and campaign for a more frugal life among households to avoid financial difficulties.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-30
Author(s):  
Hatice Düzakın ◽  
Süreyya Yılmaz

The main objective of this study was to explain individuals’ financial literacy levels through socioeconomic and demographic variables. A random sample of 1000 participants was recruited from Turkey. As an indicator of the financial literacy level, a measure with three constructs was adopted: financial attitude, financial behaviour and financial knowledge. Logit model was estimated from these explanatory variables: gender, age, marital status, number of family members, education, income, number of persons with income, household income and working conditions. In the logit model results, the effect of gender, age and education was statistically significant and positive. The results emphasized that there is a relationship between financial literacy level and gender, age and education. Additionally, the results of this study indicated that the level of financial literacy is 52.9% in Turkey.


2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (11/12) ◽  
pp. 1423-1438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mouna Amari ◽  
Bassem Salhi ◽  
Anis Jarboui

PurposeThe objective of this study is to explore the effects of financial literacy level and risk aversion on the saving behavior. The literature review showed dialectical results. Therefore, this study attempts to clarify the debatable of these results by studying the mediating effect of risk aversion on the relationships between demographics determinants and saving behavior moderated by the effect of the financial literacy level.Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected from the University of Normandy; the study sample included 516 respondents representing different segments of French households. The structural equation analysis was utilized to control the impact of financial literacy as a moderate variable and the risk aversion as a mediator variable among the link between sociodemographic factors and saving behavior.FindingsThe results demonstrated that there were significant effects of demographics factors on risk aversion. Moreover, financial literacy moderates the relationships between risk aversion and saving behavior.Research limitations/implicationsThe major limitation of this research is the small size of the study sample. This paper is restricted to French households. Future financial education training should cover the European context.Practical implicationsThis study provides further evidence that financial literacy should be considered an important factor for improving household well-being. The paper encourages governments and financial institutions to create a national financial education program.Originality/valueThis paper is the first attempt to employ a sample of low-income households after financial education training in the French context.


2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 730-745 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riccardo Natoli

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine whether differences in the characteristics, financial knowledge and financial attitudes of a migrant group exert significant influence on the likelihood of their financial literacy level. Design/methodology/approach A multiple discriminant analysis incorporating post-estimation analyses is employed, where the financial literacy level is used to identify a priori clusters. Findings The results showed that a significant discriminant function could be estimated to classify the study cohort into three financial literacy groupings. The paper concludes with recommendations for future research to address financial literacy, taking into account differences in characteristics, financial attitudes and financial knowledge of different cohort groups. Research limitations/implications Although the research targets Vietnamese migrants, no claims can be made regarding the representation of other migrant groups as a whole. The research has implications with respect to programs to improve financial literacy levels of those most at need. This paper provides recommendations for future research in this area. Originality/value The paper provides one of the few studies of an Australian migrant cohort with respect to financial literacy. The study utilises a multiple discriminant analysis incorporating post-estimation analysis to examine, and compare, the factors that influence a person’s financial literacy level.


2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (10) ◽  
pp. 1234-1246
Author(s):  
Lambert K. Engelbrecht ◽  
Abigail Ornellas

Purpose Within a neoliberal environment, financial vulnerability of households has become an increasing challenge and there is a requirement of financial literacy education, a necessary activity to facilitate sustainable development and well-being. However, this is seldom a mainstream discourse in social work deliberations. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach First, introducing the neoliberal impact on financial well-being and capability for vulnerable households, the authors’ postulation is substantiated on a seven-point argument. The contexts of financially vulnerable households are sketched. Second, a conceptualisation of financial literacy is offered, and third, perspectives on and approaches to financial literacy as a fundamental capability are presented. This is followed by a theoretical foundation of community education as a practice model in social work to develop financial capabilities. In the fifth place, prevailing practices of Financial Capabilities Development (FCD) programmes are offered. Subsequently, the implications of a neoliberal environment for social work practice are examined. Findings The revised global definition of social work encourages the profession to understand and address the structural causes of social problems through collective interventions. As a response, it is argued that community education towards FCD of vulnerable households within a neoliberal environment should be an essential discourse in social development. Originality/value The authors reflect on the significance of FCD, highlighting its contribution towards human security and sustainable development. Although this paper draws on Southern African contexts, the discourse finds resonance in other contexts across the world.


2021 ◽  
pp. 104420732110275
Author(s):  
Alex Nester Jiya ◽  
Maxwell Peprah Opoku ◽  
William Nketsia ◽  
Joslin Alexei Dogbe ◽  
Josephine Nkrumah Adusei

Deplorable living conditions among persons with disabilities and the need to improve their living conditions cannot be overemphasized. This has triggered international discussion on the need for deliberate social policies to bridge the poverty gap between persons with and without disabilities. In Malawi, expansion of financial services has been identified as an essential tool to accelerate economic and inclusive development. However, empirical studies are yet to explore the preparedness of financial institutions to extend their services to persons with disabilities. In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with managers from commercial banks in Malawi to understand their perspectives on extending financial services to persons with disabilities. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and a descriptive thematic analysis was performed. Although participants reiterated the need to provide persons with disabilities with financial services to improve their well-being, few initiatives have been undertaken to improve their participation. Particularly, participants stated that barriers, such as a lack of financial literacy and adaptive technologies, communication barriers, and high rates of unemployment, explained the reluctance of commercial banks to extend financial services to persons with disabilities. The limitations, recommendations for future research, and implications of the study for policymaking have been highlighted.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 103
Author(s):  
Jasmina Okicic ◽  
Meldina Kokorovic Jukan ◽  
Mensur Heric

The purpose of this research is to provide some insights into financial literacy among undergraduate students focusing primarily on the relationship between financial knowledge, financial attitudes and financial behavior and on possible gender and financial education gap in financial literacy. Using the purposive sampling technique, data collection was carried out from April to June 2020, yielding a sample of 1,046 valid responses. To gain a better understanding of the relationship between financial behaviour, financial attitudes and financial knowledge, we, primarily, use exploratory factor analysis and multiple regression model. The research findings have revealed several important issues. First, findings have suggested that financial knowledge, financial attitudes and gender may be considered as an antecedent of the financial behaviour of undergraduate students. Second, findings have also suggested a statistically - significant difference between the financial literacy of undergraduate students concerning their exposure to formal financial education.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 3683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshihiko Kadoya ◽  
Mostafa Saidur Rahim Khan

Success in the current complex and sophisticated financial marketplaces depends on the ability of people to make sustainable financial decisions to improve their future well-being, for which financial literacy is a pathway. This study examines the relationship between the demographic and socio-economic factors and financial literacy in Japan by segregating financial literacy into financial knowledge, attitude, and behavior, and providing a deeper understanding of the relationships. The methodology included using data from the Financial Literacy Survey 2016 by the Central Council for Financial Services Information of Japan. We used a linear regression model to explain how demographic and socio-economic factors relate to financial knowledge, attitude, and behavior. Results show that education, the balance of financial assets, and the use of financial information are positively related, while the experience of financial trouble is negatively related to financial knowledge, attitude, and behavior. We show that males are more financially knowledgeable than females, but females are more positive than males with regard to financial behavior and financial attitude. Age is positively related to financial knowledge but negatively related to financial attitude, thus suggesting that middle-aged people in Japan are more financially knowledgeable, but younger and older people are more positive with regard to financial behavior and attitude. The findings have implications for policymakers.


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