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The Influence of Parental Financial Socialization on Youth’s Financial Behavior: Evidence from Ghana

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  • Gina Chowa
  • Mathieu Despard

Abstract

How youth manage their money may influence their transitions to adulthood. This may be particularly true for youth in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where many youth and young adults lack access to economic opportunities. Parental financial socialization is associated with youth financial knowledge, attitudes, and behavior in research studies conducted mostly in the US, yet little is known about the financial lives of youth living in SSA. Propensity score analysis and robust standard errors with multiple regression were used to examine the relationship between parental financial socialization and youth financial behaviors among a sample of 3,623 youth ages 12–19 and a parent or other adult guardian living in eight out of 10 regions of Ghana. Findings indicated that both parent- and youth-perceived parental financial socialization was a strong and consistent predictor of youth financial behaviors, as was receipt of earned income. Practitioners interested in empowering youth through financial education and inclusion programs might consider how to involve parents and other family members in programs and capitalize on opportunities for youth to have some earned income while they learn how to manage money. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Gina Chowa & Mathieu Despard, 2014. "The Influence of Parental Financial Socialization on Youth’s Financial Behavior: Evidence from Ghana," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 35(3), pages 376-389, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jfamec:v:35:y:2014:i:3:p:376-389
    DOI: 10.1007/s10834-013-9377-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Shiyou Wu & Mathieu R. Despard & Gina Chowa, 2017. "The Role of Parents in Introducing Children to Financial Services: Evidence from Ghana-YouthSave," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 38(3), pages 453-462, September.
    7. Christoffer L. Loderup & Joshua E. Timmons & Elisabeth R. Kimball & E. Jeffrey Hill & Loren D. Marks & Ashley B. LeBaron, 2021. "How Do Parents Teach Their Children About Work? A Qualitative Exploration of Household Chores, Employment, and Entrepreneurial Experiences," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 42(1), pages 73-89, March.
    8. Boto-García, David & Bucciol, Alessandro & Manfrè, Martina, 2022. "The role of financial socialization and self-control on saving habits," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
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    11. Terri Friedline & Mary Rauktis, 2014. "Young People Are the Front Lines of Financial Inclusion: A Review of 45 Years of Research," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(3), pages 535-602, October.
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