Developing financial capability among the young through education and asset-based welfare

Abstract

One way the previous UK government tried to tackle declining youth financial capability was through its Child Trust Fund (CTF) policy. However, there were allegations that it created pliant subjects for financial markets and that it was paving the way to phase out services previously provided by the state. This article defends financial capability as part of financial citizenship and suggests that the CTF was important for supporting financial citizenship. The CTF model is being discussed in other countries and the arguments in this article are of importance in those countries, as well as to the carers and educators of the five million CTF holders in the UK.