IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/dug/jaccma/y2014i3p37-42.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Financial Literacy – Conceptual Definition and Proposed Approach for a Measurement Instrument

Author

Listed:
  • Adriana ZAIT

    (A.I. Cuza University of Iasi, Romania)

  • Patricea Elena BERTEA

    (A.I. Cuza University of Iasi, Romania)

Abstract

The financial education of a country (in terms of knowledge, abilities and behaviors) can be crucial for a healthy economic life, at individual, macro or multi-nation level. It can contribute to a decrease of financial exclusion risks, to an increase of informed decisions and even to an increased liquidity on the financial markets. The concept designed to encompass different facets of this financial education is labeled “financial literacy”. A large number of concepts are used within the umbrella of financial literacy, and quite different measurement instruments exist, more or less sound. This conceptual and operational heterogeneity makes things complicated and does not allow comparisons and concrete actions. In order to improve people’s financial literacy we first need to define the concept and then find the best ways to measure one’s degree of financial literacy. Through our study we synthesized the definitions and instruments previously used and we suggest a comprehensive approach for obtaining a measurement instrument for this latent variable – financial literacy. We propose using separate scales for measuring the main dimensions of financial literacy – financial knowledge, financial abilities (capability to use financial information in order to take decisions), financial communication, financial behavior and financial confidence. As methodology we used a documentary study and a didactic experiment on Master degree students in finance.

Suggested Citation

  • Adriana ZAIT & Patricea Elena BERTEA, 2014. "Financial Literacy – Conceptual Definition and Proposed Approach for a Measurement Instrument," The Journal of Accounting and Management, Danubius University of Galati, issue 3, pages 37-42, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:dug:jaccma:y:2014:i:3:p:37-42
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://journals.univ-danubius.ro/index.php/jam/article/view/2712
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tullio Jappelli, 2010. "Economic Literacy: An International Comparison," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 120(548), pages 429-451, November.
    2. William R. Emmons, 2005. "Consumer-finance myths and other obstacles to financial literacy," Supervisory Policy Analysis Working Papers 2005-03, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
    3. Martin Samy & H. Tawfik & R. Huang & A. K. Nagar, 2008. "Financial Literacy of Youth. A Sensitivity Analysis of the Determinants," International Journal of Business and Economic Sciences Applied Research (IJBESAR), International Hellenic University (IHU), Kavala Campus, Greece (formerly Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Institute of Technology - EMaTTech), vol. 1(1), pages 55-70, April.
    4. Chen, Haiyang & Volpe, Ronald P., 1998. "An Analysis of Personal Financial Literacy Among College Students," Financial Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 7(2), pages 107-128.
    5. Annamaria Lusardi & Olivia S Mitchelli, 2007. "Financial Literacy and Retirement Preparedness: Evidence and Implications for Financial Education," Business Economics, Palgrave Macmillan;National Association for Business Economics, vol. 42(1), pages 35-44, January.
    6. Angela A. Hung & Andrew M. Parker & Joanne K. Yoong, 2009. "Defining and Measuring Financial Literacy," Working Papers WR-708, RAND Corporation.
    7. Annamaria Lusardi & Olivia Mitchell, 2006. "Financial Literacy and Retirement Preparedness: Evidence and Implications for Financial Education Programs," Working Papers wp144, University of Michigan, Michigan Retirement Research Center.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ester Muñoz-Céspedes & Raquel Ibar-Alonso & Sara de Lorenzo Ros, 2021. "Financial Literacy and Sustainable Consumer Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-21, August.
    2. Ijaz Hussain & Shaohong Mu & Muhammad Mohiuddin & Rizwan Qaiser Danish & Shrafat Ali Sair, 2020. "Effects of Sustainable Brand Equity and Marketing Innovation on Market Performance in Hospitality Industry: Mediating Effects of Sustainable Competitive Advantage," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-19, April.
    3. Mu'izzuddin & Taufik & Reza Ghasarma & Leonita Putri & Mohamad Adam, 2017. "Financial Literacy; Strategies and Concepts in Understanding the Financial Planning With Self-Efficacy Theory and Goal Setting Theory of Motivation Approach," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 7(4), pages 182-188.
    4. Fraser, Nancy & MacDonald, Cherique & Ooft, Gavin, 2019. "Towards Financial Inclusion: An Assessment for Suriname," EconStor Preprints 215535, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    5. Madeira, Carlos & Margaretic, Paula, 2022. "The impact of financial literacy on the quality of self-reported financial information," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 34(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Alfonso Arellano & Noelia Camara & David Tuesta, 2014. "El efecto de la autoconfianza en el conocimiento financiero," Working Papers 1427, BBVA Bank, Economic Research Department.
    2. Kadoya, Yoshihiko & Khan, Mostafa Saidur Rahim, 2020. "What determines financial literacy in Japan?," Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, Cambridge University Press, vol. 19(3), pages 353-371, July.
    3. Süleyman Uyar & Işıl Atalay, 2021. "Financial Literacy and The Effect of Courses on University on Financial Literacy," Muhasebe Enstitusu Dergisi - Journal of Accounting Institute, Istanbul University Business School, vol. 64(64), pages 1-17, January.
    4. Feng, Xiangnan & Lu, Bin & Song, Xinyuan & Ma, Shuang, 2019. "Financial literacy and household finances: A Bayesian two-part latent variable modeling approach," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 119-137.
    5. Kiliyanni, Abdul Latheef & Sivaraman, Sunitha, 2016. "The perception-reality gap in financial literacy: Evidence from the most literate state in India," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 23(C), pages 47-64.
    6. Alfonso Arellano & Noelia Camara & David Tuesta, 2014. "The effect of self-confidence on financial literacy," Working Papers 1428, BBVA Bank, Economic Research Department.
    7. Oanea Dumitru-Cristian & Dornean Adina, 2012. "Defining and Measuring Financial Literacy. New Evidence from Romanian’ Students of the Master in Finance," Scientific Annals of Economics and Business, Sciendo, vol. 59(2), pages 113-129, December.
    8. Mehmet POLAT, 2023. "An Empirical Application on Determine the Economic Literacy Levels of Public Staff," Sosyoekonomi Journal, Sosyoekonomi Society, issue 31(56).
    9. Azra Zaimovic & Anes Torlakovic & Almira Arnaut-Berilo & Tarik Zaimovic & Lejla Dedovic & Minela Nuhic Meskovic, 2023. "Mapping Financial Literacy: A Systematic Literature Review of Determinants and Recent Trends," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-30, June.
    10. M. Fort & F. Manaresi & S. Trucchi, 2012. "Banks Information Policies, Financial Literacy and Household Wealth," Working Papers wp852, Dipartimento Scienze Economiche, Universita' di Bologna.
    11. Mouna, Amari & Anis, Jarboui, 2017. "Financial literacy in Tunisia: Its determinants and its implications on investment behavior," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 39(PA), pages 568-577.
    12. John Gathergood & Joerg Weber, 2012. "Self-Control, Financial Literacy and Co-Holding Puzzle," Discussion Papers 2012-02, The Centre for Decision Research and Experimental Economics, School of Economics, University of Nottingham.
    13. Asyraf Afthanorhan & Abdullah Al Mamun & Noor Raihani Zainol & Hazimi Foziah & Zainudin Awang, 2020. "Framing the Retirement Planning Behavior Model towards Sustainable Wellbeing among Youth: The Moderating Effect of Public Profiles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-24, October.
    14. Sundar, B. & Virmani, Vineet, 2013. "Numeracy and Financial Literacy of Forest Dependent Communities Evidence from Andhra Pradesh," IIMA Working Papers WP2013-09-02, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Research and Publication Department.
    15. Thi Anh Nhu Nguyen, "undated". "Financing Constraints On Smes In Emerging Markets: Does Financial Literacy Matter?," Review of Socio - Economic Perspectives 201711, Reviewsep.
    16. Davoli, Maddalena & Hou, Jia, 2018. "Financial literacy and socialist education: Lessons from the German reunification," SAFE Working Paper Series 217, Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE.
    17. Zaheer Ahmed & Umara Noreen & Suresh A.L. Ramakrishnan & Dewi Fariha Binti Abdullah, 2021. "What explains the investment decision-making behaviour? The role of financial literacy and financial risk tolerance," Afro-Asian Journal of Finance and Accounting, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 11(1), pages 1-19.
    18. Margherita Fort & Francesco Manaresi & Serena Trucchi, 2016. "Adult financial literacy and households’ financial assets: the role of bank information policies," Economic Policy, CEPR, CESifo, Sciences Po;CES;MSH, vol. 31(88), pages 743-782.
    19. Gathergood, John & Weber, Jörg, 2014. "Self-control, financial literacy & the co-holding puzzle," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 107(PB), pages 455-469.
    20. Arceo-Gómez, Eva O. & Villagómez, F. Alejandro, 2017. "Financial literacy among Mexican high school teenagers," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 1-17.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:dug:jaccma:y:2014:i:3:p:37-42. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Florian Nuta (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/fedanro.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.