Subjective Financial Literacy Research Articles

Behavioral and contextual determinants of different stages of saving behavior

IntroductionSaving is a journey, beginning with the critical decision to initiate the process, take that pivotal first deposit step, and persistently commit to ongoing savings. However, a lot of saving plans fail already before any deposit is made, and even if the first deposit is made, long-run success of savings is far from guaranteed. In this study, we investigate both individual and saving-goal-specific determinants of successful savings.MethodWe use real-life savings data (N = 2,619 saving goals of 808 individuals) from a FinTech company in Sweden that helps individuals save for their goals. In addition, we collect a wide range of individual characteristics related to financial behavior: individuals' objective and subjective financial knowledge, self-control, and information avoidance.Results and discussionOur analysis uncovered distinctive patterns at different stages of the saving process. While objective financial knowledge didn't correlate with how much one saves, it was significantly related to the likelihood of making the first deposit. Furthermore, individuals with high self-control exhibited greater savings, though self-control was not related to the initiation of saving. Interestingly, subjective financial literacy and information avoidance showed no significant association with overall savings behavior. Additionally, our study indicated that the attainability of goals plays a crucial role in depositing funds, with more achievable goals having higher deposit likelihoods. Conversely, ambitious goals, despite their challenging nature, tended to attract more substantial savings. Our findings, grounded in real-life data, provide valuable insights into the intricate mechanisms influencing successful saving behaviors, shedding light on the complexities of financial decision-making and goal pursuit.

A research proposal to examine psychological factors that influence financial planning for retirement in China

The life expectancy rate of individuals worldwide has risen, and China is not excluded. Combined with an aging population, increasing pressure on the pension fund system, and a lack of savings, it poses a significant challenge to financial security unless measures are taken to improve individuals’ planning and financial well-being in retirement. This study aims to examine the psychological factors that influence individuals' FPR, thereby expanding the explanatory models for retirement savings decisions and behaviors. Using the CWO Model and supported by image Theory and the 3M Model, this research focuses on how the interaction between future time perspective, risk tolerance, retirement goal clarity, subjective financial literacy and objective financial literacy as psychological characteristics influence individuals' FPR. To obtain meaningful results, back translation was used to check the accuracy of the preliminary translation of research instruments. This translation method was also combined with the pretest method of expert reviews and cognitive interviews to increase the validity of the survey questionnaire. A purposive sampling technique will be applied to collect data from adults who are over 23 years old and have a certain income stream in six cities in China. The Structural Equation Modelling software will be used to examine the hypotheses of direct and mediating effects. This study has implications for financial market regulators, policy makers, and consumers. Keywords: CWO model; decision-making; financial planning; financial literacy; psychological factors; retirement

Individuals’ differences in self-assessment: The relationship between subjective and objective financial literacy

Individuals’ differences in self-assessment: The relationship between subjective and objective financial literacy

Are Retail Investors in Emerging Economies SRI Ready?

Socially responsible investment (SRI) is a contemporary idea to describe investing that incorporates social, ethical and environmental dimensions. Under the Theory of Planned Behaviour lens, the current study examines the role of attitude, subjective norm, perceived control behaviour and moral norms in explaining retail investors’ investment intention towards SRI. The study adopted the quantitative approach of research and gathered the required data using the judgmental sampling method. This research uses structural equation modelling to present a model that better explains the role of attitude, subjective norm, perceived control behaviour and moral norms in understanding retail investors’ investment intentions for SRI. The current study proposes and successfully validates the use of subjective financial literacy as a perceived control behaviour variable in studying the investment intention of SRI. The finding suggests that retail investors’ intention to invest in SRI is significantly positively influenced by attitude, subjective norms, moral norms and subjective financial literacy.

Determinants of UK students' financial anxiety amidst COVID‐19: Financial literacy and attitudes towards debt

AbstractDue to the increased financial pressure—exacerbated by the COVID‐19 pandemic—that students in higher education need to endure, considerable attention is being drawn towards the determinants of student financial anxiety. A conflicting picture has been captured about financial literacy, which has been shown to either be associated with better financial well‐being or to be unrelated to financial stress. While discerning between financial knowledge (‘objective’ financial literacy) and perceived ability to manage personal finances (‘subjective’ financial literacy), this study also explores the impact that students' attitudes towards debt may exert on their financial anxiety. In a sample of 174 university students from the UK, we measured students' financial anxiety, objective and subjective financial literacy, attitudes towards debt and perceived impact of COVID‐19 on financial behaviour. Bayesian analyses revealed that only attitudes towards debt and perception of the impact of the pandemic predicted students' financial anxiety. While the evidence in regard to financial literacy was inconclusive, mediation analyses showed that objective financial literacy indirectly impacted financial anxiety by increasing fear of debt. The findings suggest that students' financial anxiety may be reduced by adopting strategies that focus on the subjective perception of debt and of economic circumstances.

An Empirical Study of User Adoption of Cryptocurrency Using Blockchain Technology: Analysing Role of Success Factors like Technology Awareness and Financial Literacy

The study aims to investigate how an individual’s technology awareness, subjective financial literacy and personal innovativeness characteristics impact the intention to use blockchain-based digital currencies such as cryptocurrency. The UTAUT 2 (Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2) model is extended with crucial constructs to develop the conceptual model. A total of 312 responses are analysed using Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modelling (CB-SEM). The moderation effects are assessed using multi-group analysis. The findings show a significant moderating effect of technology awareness and subjective financial literacy on the relationship between performance expectancy (PE) and behavioural intention to use cryptocurrency (BI). It further identified that performance expectancy (PE) mediates personal innovativeness (PI) and usage intentions (BI). The study adds to the growing literature of digital currency adoption by focusing on individual innovativeness, technology awareness and financial literacy. It also proposes a research model that can be generalised for new-age consumer-based financial technology adoption.

THE INFLUENCE OF SUBJECTIVE NORMS, FINANCIAL LITERACY, TRUST, AND GOVERNMENT REGULATION ON BEHAVIORAL INTENTION TO INVEST IN CRYPTOCURRENCY

Despite the fact that cryptocurrency is regarded as a highrisk speculative cryptocurrencies, the growth in the number of cryptocurrency owners in Indonesia continues to grow every year. The low level of financial literacy and the trust factor in crypto investment are the reasons why the government is worried about the increasing number of crypto investors. The study will provide an explanation for the rise in cryptocurrency investment based on the following variables: subjective norms, financial literacy, trust, and governmental regulation. Gender is utilized as a moderating variable to analyze the difference in cryptocurrencies investment between men and women. This study used a quantitative methodology, the data were collected using a questionnaire survey of respondents who were at least 17 years old, and had invested in non- cryptocurrencies. Financial literacy and trust were discovered to have an impact on the forming of investment intentions in cryptocurrency. Women are known to have higher trust than men in investing in cryptocurrencies. This research is expected to provide input to the Indonesian government in developing strategies to establish a safer environment for investors and to minimize the amount of risk associated with cryptocurrency investment.

Pengaruh Literasi Keuangan dan Financial Self-Efficacy terhadap Risky Credit Behaviour dalam Penggunaan PayLater

This study aims to determine the effect of Financial Literacy and Financial self efficacy on Risky credit behaviour in the usage of pay later feature. In addition, this study also aims to determine the mediating effect of Financial self-efficacy between financial literacy and risky credit behaviour. The population of this study is Indonesia Millenials and the sample of this study is residents born between 1990-2000 who have used pay later in the last 1 year. The data analysis was performed using Partial Least Square method. The results of the study indicate that objective financial literacy and subjective financial literacy have positive and significant effects on Financial self-efficacy, Financial self efficacy has negatif significant effects on risky credit behaviour, objective financial literacy and subjective financial literacy have negatif significant effects on risky credit behaviour, and Financial self-efficacy mediates the effects of subjective financial literacy and objective financial literacy on risky credit behavior.

To what extent do grade levels and the requirement of an economics course in high school impact the financial literacy levels of students in the United States?

Young adults’ financial literacy levels are on a steady decline. In response, more schools in the United States are beginning to incorporate financial education into their curriculums. This study aimed to answer the question, “To what extent do grade levels and the requirement of an economics course in high school impact the financial literacy levels of students in the United States?” This paper augmented previous research by examining the relationships between subjective and objective financial literacy levels based on various educational parameters. Analyzing these variables may provide more effective approaches to impact young adults' future financial behaviors through education. A review of literature on these topics suggest mixed results as to whether financial education improved students’ financial behaviors. However, findings within this study indicate that high school students of upper level grades displayed a stronger positive correlation between their objective and subjective financial literacy levels compared to students of lower level grades. Furthermore, research showed that improving the quality and availability of financial education curricula such as economic courses may help increase students’ knowledge on financial topics.

Evaluation and Classification of Behavioral Biases According to Thinking Styles, Risky Investment Intention, and Subjective Financial Literacy

Evaluation and Classification of Behavioral Biases According to Thinking Styles, Risky Investment Intention, and Subjective Financial Literacy

Financial Literacy Confidence and Retirement Planning: Evidence from China

Though ample empirical evidence demonstrates the relationship between objective financial literacy and retirement planning, we have a limited understanding of the role of individuals’ subjective financial literacy in their retirement planning. In this study, we examine how individuals’ financial literacy confidence bias affects their retirement planning behaviors using survey data in China. Based on the difference between respondents’ subjective and objective financial literacy from survey data, we construct measures of individuals’ financial literacy overconfidence and underconfidence for empirical analysis. Our results document the critical role of individuals’ assessment of financial literacy in their retirement planning. We find that individuals’ financial literacy overconfidence (underconfidence) significantly promotes (demotes) their retirement planning behaviors.

Determinants of positive financial behavior: a parallel mediation model

PurposeDrawing from socialization theory this study investigates the effect of financial socialization and mediating role of “attitude toward money” (ATM) and financial literacy on the financial behavior of young adults in an emerging economy.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional survey of 302 young adults was conducted and responses were analyzed to determine the key antecedents of financial behavior. The model was tested using OLS regression. Parallel mediation was tested using Process Macro in SPSS.FindingsATM, subjective financial literacy, objective financial literacy are positively associated with financial behavior. Furthermore, parallel mediation analysis establishes the role of ATM and subjective financial literacy as a mediator between financial socialization and financial behavior.Research limitations/implicationsThese findings have implications for both financial and academic institutions and policymakers. Academic institutions should introduce personal wealth management courses at early stages in their courses to help young adults make appropriate financial decisions. Policymakers should emphasize creating a habit of budgeting and managing expenses among young adults in addition to promoting financial literacy.Originality/valueThis study focuses on determinants of financial behavior in young adults and specifically, argues that involving parents to financially socialize their children have a crucial impact on subjective financial literacy and ATM which has not been explored in previous literature.

Healthy financial habits in young adults: An exploratory study of the relationship between subjective financial literacy, engagement with finances, and financial decision‐making

AbstractThis paper provides insights into young adults' financial habits and decision‐making considerations as they enter the workforce. We use 28 semi‐structured interviews with Australian university graduates to explore how their motivation to engage with personal finances and their subjective financial literacy, i.e., self‐reported, support healthy financial habits. Our findings show that a young adult's social context and exposure to financial hardship rather than their financial confidence determine the health of their financial habits. We observed research participants in a romantic partnership as more focused on their future. This future focus motivates them to engage more with their finances and manifests as explicit goal setting, formal budgeting, or adherence to strict bucket systems. These insights might be useful for policymakers and educators: social context matters when designing financial health interventions, while financial education programs predominately should aim at demystifying complex long‐term financial decision‐making such as investments and retirement.

The Moderating Effect of Subjective Financial Literacy on the Relationship between Coping Strategies and Financial Risk Tolerance

In the study, the effects of conscious (coping strategies), emotional (emotional intelligence) and cognitive (financial literacy) factors on the level of financial risk tolerance were investigated. Financial literacy was measured both objectively and subjectively, and the impact of both actual knowledge and perceived knowledge was examined. Four independent variables (coping strategies, emotional intelligence, objective financial literacy and subjective financial literacy) and one dependent variable (financial risk tolerance) were examined. 1692 subjects were reached using online survey method. Confirmatory factor analysis, correlation and regression analyses were performed on the collected data, and also the moderating effect of subjective financial literacy was also examined. As a result of the analyses, it was found that coping strategies decrease financial risk tolerance. The moderating effect of subjective financial literacy also was proven in this relationship. In addition, while there was moderate relationship between subjective financial literacy and objective financial literacy, emotional intelligence and objective financial literacy were also reported to be predictors of subjective financial literacy. While a negative and significant relationship was detected between emotional intelligence and financial risk tolerance, a positive and significant relationship was found between objective and subjective financial literacy and financial risk tolerance.

Evaluation of investment preference with phantasy, emotional intelligence, confidence, trust, financial literacy and risk preference

PurposeThere is strong excitement during Ponzi schemes and financial bubble periods. This emotion causes investors to turn to “unknown and new investment instruments”. This study, the factors that made “unknown and new investment instruments” preferable to “known and experienced investment instruments” were investigated.Design/methodology/approachIt was taken into account unconscious like phantasy, emotional like emotional intelligence, both affective and cognitive like financial literacy and subjective beliefs like trust and overconfidence. In addition, risk preferences were measured with four different risk variables. In this context, data were collected by online survey method between November 2020 and May 2021 with convenience sampling. First, the data were collected from 832 participants in the pilot study. Additional data were also collected using convenience sampling and online surveys, and a total of 1,692 participants were obtained. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 25 and AMOS 24.FindingsAs a result of the analyses made, the variables that lead investors to choose “unknown and new investment instruments” were determined as risky investment intention, phantasy, risk taking/risk avoidance, confidence, risk tolerance and subjective financial literacy. Trust and risk perception have a very weak effect on preferences. However, no effect of emotional intelligence and objective financial literacy was detected. In addition, a moderately positive and significant relationship was found between objective and subjective financial literacy. Subjective financial literacy was found to have a strong and significant relationship with emotional intelligence, confidence, trust, risky investment intention and phantasy.Originality/valueThis study investigates the factors underlying individuals' investment preferences from a broad perspective. We think that this study is unique in this structure and wide variables. We believe that the findings obtained in this manner are unique to both academics and practitioners. We also believe that the findings of the study will make an important contribution to understanding participation behavior in various Ponzi schemes and financial bubbles.

TINJAUAN LITERATUR FINANCIAL LITERACY DAN PENGARUHNYA PADA BIAS KEUANGAN

Financial Literacy has been known as a factor influencing decision making. Financial literacy is knowledge, skill, and attitude of a person regarding finance. Researchers use subjective and objective financial literacy to measure how literate a person is. One of behavior finance observation is to study how mind can be affected by bias. There are many biases that people should be aware of. Such bias can make people suffer from financial loss. Studies have shown there is a relation between financial literacy and bias. The more literate, the better he can avoid bias. This study explains the theory of financial literacy and financial bias. Previous works have been thoroughly selected to provide evidence.

Shedding light on the impact of financial literacy for corporate social responsibility during the COVID-19 crisis: managerial and financial perspectives

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to help management scholars and executives learn from the COVID-19 global crisis by analyzing if and how the level of financial literacy affected stakeholders' sensitivity to corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues during the pandemic, as well as identifying whether financial literacy is an important variable to account for in the postpandemic period. The authors test the relationship between objective (measurable) and subjective (self-assessed) financial literacy, as well as financial happiness (i.e. satisfaction with one's current financial situation) with CSR during the pandemic. High levels of financial literacy cause individuals to reward companies that implement CSR strategies and processes.Design/methodology/approachThe authors designed an online survey and obtained data on objective and subjective financial literacy, financial happiness and COVID-19 infections, as well as on the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of a representative sample of 1,334 Italian respondents. From a methodological point of view, the authors perform a factor analysis on the CSR-related questions to extract the principal components (PCs) that were used as dependent variables in the regression models to analyze the effects of explanatory variables (financial literacy, financial happiness and COVID-19 infections) and consider the control variables (demographic and socioeconomic characteristics). The authors follow a theoretical approach merging stakeholder theory with CSR.FindingsRespondents with a high level of financial literacy and financial happiness are highly sensitive to all CSR components (ethical, philanthropic, economic and legal social responsibilities). Being infected by COVID-19 increased participants' sensitivity to ethical and philanthropic social responsibility (SR), but not to economic and legal SR. The more educated and employed respondents were, the more sensitive they were to CSR, especially compared to their less educated and unemployed counterparts.Research limitations/implicationsWhile the sample used is large and representative of the Italian population, Italy is an interesting and useful case to analyze, given that it was the first Western country to be severely hit by COVID-19; since the paper only refers to a specific country scenario, the results cannot be generalized to other countries. A cross-country comparison relating financial literacy and financial happiness to CSR during the COVID-19 pandemic period would be desirable. The research study has theoretical implications for management scholars since the authors show that, during the pandemic period, financial education and financial happiness are relevant in explaining stakeholders' greater sensitivity to CSR issues. The findings may thus help scholars to learn from the COVID-19 period, with the aim of further developing and enhancing stakeholders' theory.Practical implicationsThe research also has practical implications, both for corporate executives and for policymakers, helping them to learn from the COVID-19 global crisis concerning the role of financial literacy and financial happiness on CSR sensitivity and, consequently, how they may consider these important variables in the postpandemic era. On the one hand, executives may improve stakeholders' segmentation and eventually modify CSR policies, considering the higher sensitivity of their stakeholders' due to a higher degree of financial literacy. On the other hand, the findings suggest that policymakers should have a stronger role in supporting employment and education in general and in promoting programs to improve financial literacy to increase stakeholders' sensitivity to CSR, thus further stimulating the inclusion of CSR factors in companies' strategies. Increasing stakeholders' sensitivity to CSR will, in turn, increase the propensity of companies to include SR in their strategies. Thus, increasing financial literacy will have tangible positive effects of increasing CSR. Given the greater role played by companies during the COVID-19 period with respect to societal risk, the findings seem particularly useful.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study represents the first that links financial literacy and financial happiness with CSR during the COVID-19 crisis. The large and representative dataset, as well as the use of specific variables related to financial literacy, financial happiness and COVID-19 infections in the CSR assessment model, makes our analysis original, robust and significant by contributing to the CSR literature and to the financial literacy literature from a methodological point of view, as well as by informing corporate executives and policymakers about the role of financial literacy with regard to CSR during the pandemic, which may help them in learning how to improve their decisions and actions in the postpandemic era.

Banks retail clients' profiles and the gender gap in subjective financial literacy of spouses

AbstractThis article examines the gender gap in subjective financial literacy of retail clients of a large commercial bank in Europe. Under the European regulatory context (MiFID), clients of banks and financial institutions have to complete risk‐profiling questionnaires; these data are especially useful for financial advisors. Using a database of banking records and MiFID questionnaire answers of more than 50,000 retail clients, we find that the gender gap in subjective financial literacy is significantly higher for individuals living as part of a couple. We consider 7,382 dual‐income couples with matched‐partner data and find some heterogeneity in their gender gap in subjective financial literacy. We identify the couple characteristics that explain either a classical (i.e., women exhibit a significantly lower self‐assessed financial knowledge than men) or an inverse gap and point out that subjective financial literacy of spouses is related to their financial management styles.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among the Younger Generation in Japan.

Japan has vaccinated its older population; a mass vaccination program for younger citizens is underway. Accordingly, this study investigated vaccine hesitancy among younger Japanese citizens. We used online panel survey data from the Hiroshima Institute of Health Economics Research of Hiroshima University and applied probit regression models. Our study found that vaccine hesitancy among younger people was significantly higher than among older people. Moreover, vaccine hesitancy was significantly higher among younger women than younger men and inter-age-group differences in vaccine hesitancy were higher for younger men than for younger women. Regression demonstrated that subjective health status and anxiety about the future were significantly associated with vaccine hesitancy among younger women and younger men of all ages, respectively. Furthermore, marital status, university degree, anxiety about the future, and myopic view of the future had specific associations with vaccine hesitancy among younger women of different ages, while subjective health status, university degree, having children, financial literacy, household income and assets, and myopic view about the future had specific associations with vaccine hesitancy among younger men of varying ages. Therefore, these results suggest that policymakers should consider the diversity among the younger generation while developing effective, tailored communication strategies to reduce their vaccine hesitancy.

Exploring the relationship between investment choices, cognitive abilities risk attitudes and financial literacy

PurposeThe main purpose of this study is to investigate the investment choices' relationship with cognitive abilities, risk aversion, risky investment intentions, subjective financial literacy and objective financial literacy.Design/methodology/approachTo examine the relationship, two investment choices were given to 256 subjects from Pakistan. Questionnaire had total 20 questions for measuring five variables. To review this nexus, discriminant analysis was used as to explore the depth of the nexus that is the ability of the variables to predict the investment choices.FindingsThis study establishes the findings that Investment choices are guided by risk aversion, risky investment intentions, financial literacy (subjective and objective) and cognitive abilities. The risk aversion has negative relation to investment choices and other variables depict positive relationship to with investment choices.Practical implicationsThis study provides a new and useful understanding into the existing literature on investment choices. The results are significant as the cognitive abilities show a positive contribution to the investment choices. This is point of significance as the portfolio managers and advisors would get help in regards of advising investments as they are aware what factors impact the investment choices.Originality/valueThis study is novel in its nature to evaluate investment choices using the cognitive ability alongside risk attitudes and financial literacy.