scholarly journals Financial Homo Ignorans: measuring vulnerability to behavioral biases in household finance

Author(s):  
Kinga Barrafrem ◽  
Daniel Västfjäll ◽  
Gustav Tinghög

Understanding systematic differences in sound financial behavior between individuals is a key area for public policy and the possibility to tailor interventions to promote financial well-being. In this paper we develop and validate a concise 12 item questionnaire measuring individual’s vulnerability to behavioral biases in household finance – the Financial Homo Ignorans (FHI) Scale. We conduct two studies with general population samples (total N=2508) and show that the FHI scale can predict behavior in financial tasks such as consumer purchases, loan choices, or investment decisions, also when controlling for demographics, financial literacy and other related constructs. In addition, we show that consumer heterogeneity as assessed by the FHI scale explains the variation in household finance management and financial well-being. The FHI scale has application potential as it can be used by researchers, policy makers, and financial institutions to study the psychological underpinnings of financial behavior and design interventions by targeting individuals who are particularly vulnerable.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Soo Ming Chua ◽  
Phaik Nie Chin

PurposeThis study aims to understand the drivers that help working adults to be better prepared for retirement, by examining the relationship between financial literacy (FL), financial attitude (FA), financial well-being (FWB), financial behavior (FB) and retirement preparation (RP). RP includes multidimensional measures, which are retirement confidence, retirement planning, long-term financial planning and private retirement schemes (PRS) participation.Design/methodology/approachThis was a quantitative study adopting non-probability sampling with self-administered questionnaire distributed to all working adults. Descriptive analysis was used to examine the 294 useable data, and the multiple logistic regression analysis was adopted for hypothesis testing.FindingsThe empirical results show that FB is positively associated with RP and then followed by FWB on retirement confidence. Although insignificant influence is found on FL and FA, better FL and FA will still improve individuals' RP.Research limitations/implicationsThe study provides insights to working adults that practicing positive FB and good FWB will improve RP. Besides, for financial institutions, income level is the main determinant for consumers to participate in PRS; for policy makers, to incorporate financial attributes knowledge as part of the school curriculum since early school years.Originality/valueThis study is one of the few studies in Malaysia that explored FL, FA, FB and FWB on retirement planning, respectively.


2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamad Fadzli Sabri ◽  
Leila Falahatib Falahati

Financial well-being and its impact on the quality of life among employees have received considerable attention from researchers, consumer and financial educators, practitioners and policy makers. The purpose of this study is to examine the determinant factors of employees’ financial well-being in Malaysia. The results of this study can be used for better understanding of the relationship between and among determinants of financial well-being by highlighting the relationships among financial literacy, financial behavior, financial capability, financial problem, and financial stress. Samples were selected using multi-stage sampling technique among employees in public and private sectors. A total of 2,000 completed questionnaires were analyzed using path analysis to identify direct and indirect effects on financial well-being. The results identified that financial well-being determinants were financial literacy, financial behavior, financial capability, financial problem; and financial stress had either a direct and indirect effect on financial well-being. The findings indicated that financial stress partially mediate the effect of factors on predicting financial well-being.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Yandi Suprapto

The purpose of this study is to determine whether financial behavior, financial socialization agents, financial attitude,  financial stress, and financial literacy can influence financial well being in millennial generation in Batam City. Financial well being is described when a person is able to prosper in the field of financial finance. Welfare is reflected in the ability to meet and manage all needs and desires. While millennial is the most current generation so that it can be a hope and reflection of a country. This research method begins with the distribution of questionnaires to the people of Batam city aged 15-19 years. Data were collected as many as 300 respondents then processed with multiple regression research models using SPSS. Variable financial literacy, financial attitude and financial socialization agents provide a significant positive relationship to financial well being. Meanwhile financial stress has a significant negative relationship with financial well being. Then for financial behavior variables show no significant relationship to financial well being.


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.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 805-817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Jian Xiao ◽  
Nilton Porto

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate roles of financial literacy, financial behavior, and financial capability as mediating factors between financial education and financial satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach Data are from the 2012 National Financial Capability Study, a large national data set with detailed information on financial satisfaction, education, literacy, behavior, capability, and related variables. Mediation analyses are used to answer research questions. Findings Financial education may affect financial satisfaction, a subjective measure of financial well-being, through financial literacy, financial behavior, and financial capability variables. Results show that subjective financial literacy, desirable financial behavior and a financial capability index (a sum of Z-scores of objective financial literacy, subjective financial literacy, desirable financial behavior, and perceived financial capability) are strong mediators between financial education and financial satisfaction. Research limitations/implications The study has used cross sectional data that can only document associations between financial education and satisfaction and the mediators between them. Future research could use relevant longitudinal data to verify multiple benefits of financial education. Practical implications The findings have implications for financial service professionals to take advantages of multiple benefits of financial education in content acquisition, confidence in knowledge and ability, and action taking when they communicate with their clients. Social implications Policy makers on consumer financial education may use the information to advocate and promote effective education programs to improve consumer financial well-being. Originality/value This study is the first of this kind to examine the association between financial education and financial satisfaction and several financial capability variables as mediating factors.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 1199-1205
Author(s):  
Amir Rafique ◽  
Muhammad Umer Quddoos ◽  
Usama Kalim ◽  
Muhammad Ramzan Sheikh

This study aims at understanding the relationships of certain behavioral biases with the investment performance, and identifies the moderating role of financial literacy upon these hypothesized relationships. Data is collected through questionnaire from the investors trading at Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). Structured Equation Modeling (SEM) is used to analyze the data with the results that only anchoring and overconfidence biases have significant effects on investment performance. The results also show that presence of financial literacy does not play any role in improving the performance of investors. Majorly, findings of current study contribute by testing the moderating role of financial literacy between the behavioral biases and the outcome of investment decisions and thus expected to be useful for investors and policy makers.  


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0256649
Author(s):  
Fatima Hashmi ◽  
Hira Aftab ◽  
José Moleiro Martins ◽  
Mário Nuno Mata ◽  
Hamza Ahmad Qureshi ◽  
...  

The sustainable financial behavior and financial well-being have been a key concern among the developing societies; thereby encompassing the various psychological factors which play a role in influencing individual’s positive financial behavior and financial well-being, this study is conducted. Research focusing on the psychological aspect of human financial behavior and well-being is scarce, focusing more on the cognitive side such as financial literacy and numeracy. The aim of this research study is to find the role played by the non-cognitive factors such as self-esteem, self-control, optimism and deliberative thinking, in forming the financial behavior and financial well-being of the young adults. A sample of 429 university students from public and private sector was collected via an online and field survey using purposive sampling technique. The survey contained measures for demographics, self-esteem, optimism, deliberative thinking, self-control, general financial behavior and financial well-being. SPSS and PLS-SEM tools were used for the exploration of the relationships among dependent and independent variables. The results of PLS path analysis demonstrate that among the non-cognitive factors, self-control and deliberative thinking show a significant association with both financial behavior, and financial security. Self-esteem plays no significant role in forming the financial behavior of the young adults when all the variables are taken together but it exhibits a significant association with financial well-being (financial security and financial anxiety). Optimism on the other hand exhibits no significant association with both financial behavior and financial well-being (financial security and financial anxiety). The results of this study complement the previous studies and also put forth new outcomes. This research is unique as it is the first of its kind conducted in a consumption-oriented economy like Pakistan. In addition to the previous studies which have often established the link of self-esteem with general well-being, this study goes further by analyzing the association between self-esteem and financial well-being and by the identification of the role played by non-cognitive factors like self-esteem, optimism, deliberative thinking and self-control together on the financial behavior and financial well-being of the individuals using PLS-SEM approach.


2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 845-866 ◽  
Author(s):  
Israel José dos Santos Felipe ◽  
Harrison Bachion Ceribeli ◽  
Túlio Queiroz Lana

AbstractConsidering that the quality of financial decisions taken by individuals depends on their financial knowledge, abilities and attitudes, it is possible to state that the well-being of a population depends on how financially literate it is. In this context, the aim of this study was to measure the financial literacy level of university students in north of Mexico. The research method used was the survey and the data collected were analyzed using the structural equation modeling technique. As results, it was possible to confirm that financial attitudes of university students of north of Mexico influence their financial behavior. However, it was not confirmed that financial knowledge of these students impacts their financial behavior. As a high relationship between financial attitudes, financial behavior and financial knowledge of analyzed individuals was not found, it is concluded that the level of financial literacy of university students in the north of Mexico is low. It implies in the necessity to invest in financial literacy programs that could help this population to better manage their resources, what would certainly impact on its savings and consumption decisions, and retirement planning.Keywords: Financial Literacy. Financial Education. Structural Equation Modeling. Mexican Students. Investigando o nível de alfabetização financeira de estudantes universitários ResumoConsiderando que a qualidade das decisões financeiras tomadas pelos indivíduos depende de seus conhecimentos, habilidades e atitudes financeiras, é possível afirmar que o bem-estar de uma população depende do quão financeiramente alfabetizada ela é. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste estudo foi mensurar o grau de alfabetização financeira dos estudantes universitários do norte do México. O método de pesquisa utilizado foi a survey e os dados coletados foram analisados por meio da técnica de modelagem de equações estruturais. Como resultados, foi possível confirmar que as atitudes financeiras dos universitários do norte do México influenciam seu comportamento financeiro. Todavia, não se confirmou que o conhecimento financeiro desses estudantes impacta seu comportamento financeiro. Como não se encontrou uma forte relação entre os conhecimentos, atitudes e comportamentos financeiros dos indivíduos analisados, conclui-se que o nível de alfabetização financeira dos estudantes universitários do norte do México é baixo. Isso implica na necessidade de investir em programas de alfabetização financeira para auxiliar essa população a melhor gerir seus recursos, o que certamente irá impactar em suas decisões de poupança e consumo, assim como em seu planejamento de aposentadoria.Palavras-chave: Alfabetização financeira. Educação financeira. Modelagem de equações Estruturais. Estudantes mexicanos.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 54-69
Author(s):  
Natal’ya Alikperova ◽  
Kristina Vinogradova

The Object of the Study. Financially competent behaviour.The Subject of the Study. Factors of forming financially competent behaviour.The Purpose of the Study. Identification of factors influencing the formation of financial literacy behaviour based on the results of empirical studies of the level of financial literacy of the Russian population, the results of an expert survey in the framework of research «Institutionalization of financial literacy of the Russian population».The main Provisions of the Article. The formation of financially competent behavior is not only a prerequisite for the effective functioning and development of the entire financial system of Russiya, but also acts as a factor of material well-being of citizens, a smoothing element of differentiation in income. Changes in economic relations, the complexity of the financial market, its structure and products, as well as the transition to digital rails have led the population to the need of developing skills in the formation of financially competent strategies. To implement such strategies, it is necessary to have a resource and intellectual base among the population, as well as opportunities for the formation of an effective ecosystem of interaction between all participants in financial relations. The study identified the main trends in the financial behavior of Russians in modern conditions, factors affecting the choice of certain strategies of financial behavior, as well as conditions for the transformation of these strategies into new forms of financially literate behavior. Among the main we can note the low level of financial literacy of Russians, if anything, this trend can be traced from year to year, due not only to psychological and cultural aspects of behavior (inherent in Russians fear, uncertainty and insecurity, laziness, stereotyping, and shifting responsibility to third parties), but with the increasing complexity of the financial market as a whole, erroneous conception of the essence of certain concepts, and as a result, the alignment of financial strategies in accordance with this interpritation, the spread of the phenomenon gaining momentum – misseling, and may also indirectly indicate the inefficiency of the current system of improving financial literacy of Russians. According to the analysis of secondary data, government statistics public confidence in financial institutions, income level also influence on forming financial literacy strategies, which is confirmed by the data of the expert survey conducted within the project «Institutionalization of financial literacy of the Russian population»


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.


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