IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/jconsa/v60y2026i2ne70045.html

The Gender Gap in Financial Literacy—The Role of Response Behavior

Author

Listed:
  • Lucy Haag
  • Luis Oberrauch
  • Taiga Brahm

Abstract

The gender gap in financial literacy favoring men is a well‐documented phenomenon. Research reveals that women more frequently opt for the “do not know” (DK) response option than men. As the gender gap in financial literacy is evident at a young age and should be counteracted early, we focus on a sample of German adolescents (N = 1958) and investigate which factors are relevant for the decision to select the DK option. Applying regression and decomposition analyses, our study results confirm a substantial gender gap both in financial literacy scores and in the tendency to choose DK. If respondents are not offered a DK option, the gender gap significantly decreases. The decision to select DK can be partly explained by girls' lower math scores and less interest in economics. Our results contribute to the literature by examining factors associated with picking DK in a young sample, offering policy implications regarding targeted programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Lucy Haag & Luis Oberrauch & Taiga Brahm, 2026. "The Gender Gap in Financial Literacy—The Role of Response Behavior," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(2), June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jconsa:v:60:y:2026:i:2:n:e70045
    DOI: 10.1111/joca.70045
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/joca.70045
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/joca.70045?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Annamaria Lusardi & Olivia S. Mitchell, 2008. "Planning and Financial Literacy: How Do Women Fare?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 98(2), pages 413-417, May.
    2. Raquel Fonseca & Simon Lord, 2020. "Canadian Gender Gap in Financial Literacy: Confidence Matters," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 235(4), pages 153-182, December.
    3. Boisclair, David & Lusardi, Annamaria & Michaud, Pierre-Carl, 2017. "Financial literacy and retirement planning in Canada," Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, Cambridge University Press, vol. 16(3), pages 277-296, July.
    4. Tim Kaiser & Lukas Menkhoff, 2017. "Does Financial Education Impact Financial Literacy and Financial Behavior, and If So, When?," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 31(3), pages 611-630.
    5. Kaiser, Tim & Menkhoff, Lukas, 2020. "Financial education in schools: A meta-analysis of experimental studies," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    6. Tim Kautz & James J. Heckman & Ron Diris & Bas ter Weel & Lex Borghans, 2014. "Fostering and Measuring Skills: Improving Cognitive and Non-cognitive Skills to Promote Lifetime Success," OECD Education Working Papers 110, OECD Publishing.
    7. Maarten C.J. van Rooij & Annamaria Lusardi & Rob J.M. Alessie, 2012. "Financial Literacy, Retirement Planning and Household Wealth," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 122(560), pages 449-478, May.
    8. Tinghög, Gustav & Ahmed, Ali & Barrafrem, Kinga & Lind, Thérèse & Skagerlund, Kenny & Västfjäll, Daniel, 2021. "Gender differences in financial literacy: The role of stereotype threat," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 405-416.
    9. Bottazzi, Laura & Lusardi, Annamaria, 2021. "Stereotypes in financial literacy: Evidence from PISA," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    10. Thomas Dohmen & Armin Falk & David Huffman & Uwe Sunde & Jürgen Schupp & Gert G. Wagner, 2011. "Individual Risk Attitudes: Measurement, Determinants, And Behavioral Consequences," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 9(3), pages 522-550, June.
    11. Edward T. Cokely & Mirta Galesic & Eric Schulz & Saima Ghazal & Rocio Garcia-Retamero, 2012. "Measuring risk literacy: The Berlin Numeracy Test," Judgment and Decision Making, Society for Judgment and Decision Making, vol. 7(1), pages 25-47, January.
    12. Oberrauch, Luis & Kaiser, Tim, 2020. "Economic competence in early secondary school: Evidence from a large-scale assessment in Germany," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 35(C).
    13. Leora Klapper & Annamaria Lusardi, 2020. "Financial literacy and financial resilience: Evidence from around the world," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 49(3), pages 589-614, September.
    14. Alan S. Blinder, 1973. "Wage Discrimination: Reduced Form and Structural Estimates," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 8(4), pages 436-455.
    15. Annamaria Lusardi & Olivia S. Mitchell, 2014. "The Economic Importance of Financial Literacy: Theory and Evidence," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 52(1), pages 5-44, March.
    16. repec:ecj:econjl:v:122:y:2012:i::p:449-478 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Driva, Anastasia & Lührmann, Melanie & Winter, Joachim, 2016. "Gender differences and stereotypes in financial literacy: Off to an early start," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 143-146.
    18. Jia Hou & Sebastian Schuler, 2022. "The nonlinear effect of financial literacy on wealth: evidence from Germany," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 49(3), pages 627-661, August.
    19. Grohmann, Antonia, 2018. "Financial literacy and financial behavior: Evidence from the emerging Asian middle class," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 129-143.
    20. Annamaria Lusardi & Olivia S. Mitchell, 2023. "The Importance of Financial Literacy: Opening a New Field," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 37(4), pages 137-154, Fall.
    21. repec:eme:mfppss:mf-10-2021-0509 is not listed on IDEAS
    22. Jamie Wagner & William B. Walstad, 2023. "Gender Differences in Financial Decision-Making and Behaviors in Single and Joint Households," The American Economist, Sage Publications, vol. 68(1), pages 5-23, March.
    23. Rachel Croson & Uri Gneezy, 2009. "Gender Differences in Preferences," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 47(2), pages 448-474, June.
    24. Zibei Chen & James C. Garand, 2018. "On the Gender Gap in Financial Knowledge: Decomposing the Effects of Don't Know and Incorrect Responses," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 99(5), pages 1551-1571, November.
    25. Giam Pietro Cipriani, 2018. "Gender difference in willingness to guess after a failure," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(4), pages 299-306, October.
    26. Alison C. Preston & Robert E. Wright, 2019. "Understanding the Gender Gap in Financial Literacy: Evidence from Australia," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 95(S1), pages 1-29, June.
    27. Ben Jann, 2008. "The Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition for linear regression models," Stata Journal, StataCorp LLC, vol. 8(4), pages 453-479, December.
    28. Mahnaz Mahdavi & Nicholas J. Horton, 2014. "Financial Knowledge among Educated Women: Room for Improvement," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(2), pages 403-417, June.
    29. Tabea Bucher-Koenen & Annamaria Lusardi & Rob Alessie & Maarten van Rooij, 2017. "How Financially Literate Are Women? An Overview and New Insights," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(2), pages 255-283, July.
    30. Cokely, Edward T. & Galesic, Mirta & Schulz, Eric & Ghazal, Saima & Garcia-Retamero, Rocio, 2012. "Measuring Risk Literacy: The Berlin Numeracy Test," Judgment and Decision Making, Cambridge University Press, vol. 7(1), pages 25-47, January.
    31. Hastings, Justine & Mitchell, Olivia S., 2020. "How financial literacy and impatience shape retirement wealth and investment behaviors," Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, Cambridge University Press, vol. 19(1), pages 1-20, January.
    32. Carlin, Barbara A. & Gelb, Betsy D. & Belinne, Jamie K. & Ramchand, Latha, 2018. "Bridging the gender gap in confidence," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 61(5), pages 765-774.
    33. Lührmann, Melanie & Serra-Garcia, Marta & Winter, Joachim, 2015. "Teaching teenagers in finance: Does it work?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 160-174.
    34. Myeong-Su Yun, 2005. "A Simple Solution to the Identification Problem in Detailed Wage Decompositions," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 43(4), pages 766-772, October.
    35. Bertola, Giuseppe & Lo Prete, Anna, 2025. "Who prefers guessing to admitting They Don't Know? Measurement error in financial literacy surveys," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    36. Raquel Fonseca & Kathleen J. Mullen & Gema Zamarro & Julie Zissimopoulos, 2012. "What Explains the Gender Gap in Financial Literacy? The Role of Household Decision Making," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(1), pages 90-106, March.
    37. Bucher-Koenen, Tabea & Janssen, Bennet & Knebel, Caroline & Tzamourani, Panagiota, 2023. "Financial literacy, stock market participation, and financial well-being in Germany," ZEW Discussion Papers 23-071, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    38. Alfonso Arellano & Noelia Cámara & David Tuesta, 2018. "Explaining the Gender Gap in Financial Literacy: The Role of Non†Cognitive Skills," Economic Notes, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA, vol. 47(2-3), pages 495-518, July.
    39. Chen, Jia & Jiang, Jiajun & Liu, Yu-jane, 2018. "Financial literacy and gender difference in loan performance," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 307-320.
    40. Katherine Baldiga, 2014. "Gender Differences in Willingness to Guess," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 60(2), pages 434-448, February.
    41. Jennifer Robson & Johanna Peetz, 2020. "Gender differences in financial knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors: Accounting for socioeconomic disparities and psychological traits," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(3), pages 813-835, September.
    42. Joanne W. Hsu, 2016. "Aging and Strategic Learning: The Impact of Spousal Incentives on Financial Literacy," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 51(4), pages 1036-1067.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Grohmann, Antonia & Hübler, Olaf & Kouwenberg, Roy & Menkhoff, Lukas, 2021. "Financial literacy: Thai middle-class women do not lag behind," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 31(C).
    2. Andrej Cupák & Klára Kizáková & Denys Orlov, 2025. "Exploring the Gender Gap in Financial Literacy: New Survey Evidence from Slovakia," Working and Discussion Papers WP 12/2025, Research Department, National Bank of Slovakia.
    3. Tabea Bucher-Koenen & Rob Alessie & Annamaria Lusardi & Maarten van Rooij, 2021. "Fearless Woman. Financial Literacy and Stock Market Participation," Working Papers 708, DNB.
    4. Lusardi, Annamaria & Kaiser, Tim, 2024. "Financial literacy and financial education: An overview," CEPR Discussion Papers 19185, Centre for Economic Policy Research.
    5. Haag, Lucy & Oberrauch, Luis & Brahm, Taiga & Biewen, Martin, 2025. "Understanding the Gender Gap in Economic Literacy – Evidence from Germany," EconStor Preprints 308430, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    6. Ales Marsal & Patryk Perkowski, 2025. "A Task-Based Approach to Generative AI: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Central Banking," Working and Discussion Papers WP 13/2025, Research Department, National Bank of Slovakia.
    7. Alison Preston & Robert E. Wright, 2024. "When Does the Gender Gap in Financial Literacy Begin?," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 100(328), pages 44-73, March.
    8. 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.
    9. Man Yao & Tori I. Rehr & Erica P. Regan, 2023. "Gender Differences in Financial Knowledge among College Students: Evidence from a Recent Multi-institutional Survey," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 44(3), pages 693-713, September.
    10. Justus Blaschke, 2022. "Gender differences in financial literacy among teenagers - Can confidence bridge the gap?," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(1), pages 2144328-214, December.
    11. Tabea Bucher-Koenen & Rob Alessie & Annamaria Lusardi & Maarten van Rooij, 2025. "Fearless Woman: Financial Literacy, Confidence, and Stock Market Participation," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 71(9), pages 7414-7430, September.
    12. Laura Hospido & Sara Izquierdo & Margarita Machelett, 2021. "The gender gap in financial competences (556 KB)," Economic Bulletin, Banco de España, issue 1/2021.
    13. Sconti, Alessia & Caserta, Maurizio & Ferrante, Livio, 2024. "Gen Z and financial education: Evidence from a randomized control trial in the South of Italy," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    14. Samira Ben Belgacem & Ghousia Khatoon & Hussaini Bala & Abad Alzuman, 2024. "The Role of Financial Technology on the Nexus Between Demographic, Socio-economic, and Psychological Factors, and the Financial Literacy Gap," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(2), pages 21582440241, May.
    15. Rink, Ute & Walle, Yabibal M. & Klasen, Stephan, 2021. "The financial literacy gender gap and the role of culture," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 117-134.
    16. Bertola, Giuseppe & Lo Prete, Anna, 2025. "Who prefers guessing to admitting They Don't Know? Measurement error in financial literacy surveys," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    17. Sholevar, Maryam & Harris, Laurence, 2019. "Mind the gap: A discussion paper on Financial Literacy, Financial behaviour and Financial Education : Is there any Gender Gap?," OSF Preprints b7zd6, Center for Open Science.
    18. Oscar A. Stolper & Andreas Walter, 2017. "Financial literacy, financial advice, and financial behavior," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 87(5), pages 581-643, July.
    19. Bannier, Christina E. & Schwarz, Milena, 2018. "Gender- and education-related effects of financial literacy and confidence on financial wealth," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 66-86.
    20. Maria Jose Roa & Sonia Di Giannatale & Alejandra Villegas & Jonathan Barboza, 2023. "Are women more financially vulnerable than men? A tale of missed economic opportunities from Latin America," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 41(6), November.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:bla:jconsa:v:60:y:2026:i:2:n:e70045. 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: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0022-0078 .

    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.