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Whom to educate? Financial literacy and investor awareness

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  • Gui, Zhengqing
  • Huang, Yangguang
  • Zhao, Xiaojian

Abstract

We conducted an experiment and survey in Shenzhen, China, to measure individuals' risk preferences, financial literacy, and the effect of a financial education program. A proportion of individuals may be unaware of the high risk associated with a high-return financial product and thus may purchase financial products inconsistent with their risk attitudes. Participating in our education program significantly reduced individuals' tendency to hypothetically invest in high-risk products, especially for those who are risk-averse. Therefore, rather than randomly assigning the education program to investors, we suggest that risk-averse investors be targeted. We find that the responses to standard financial literacy questions are not related to individuals' awareness of the link between high risk and high return, calling for a newly designed question of financial literacy as proposed in our study.

Suggested Citation

  • Gui, Zhengqing & Huang, Yangguang & Zhao, Xiaojian, 2021. "Whom to educate? Financial literacy and investor awareness," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:67:y:2021:i:c:s1043951x21000262
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2021.101608
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiu Chen & Xiaojian Zhao, 2021. "How time flies!," Monash Economics Working Papers 2021-09, Monash University, Department of Economics.
    2. Zhengqing Gui & Yangguang Huang & Xiaojian Zhao, 2020. "Financial Fraud and Investor Awareness," HKUST CEP Working Papers Series 202002, HKUST Center for Economic Policy.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Financial literacy; Financial education; Unawareness; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General

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