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Trust and saving in financial institutions by the poor

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  • Galiani, Sebastian
  • Gertler, Paul
  • Navajas-Ahumada, Camila

Abstract

We randomly assigned beneficiaries of a conditional cash transfer program in Peru to attend a 3 h training session designed to build their trust in financial institutions. We find that the intervention: (a) increased trust in banks, but had no effect on financial literacy, and (b) increased savings over a ten month period. The increase in savings represents a 1.4 percentage point increase in the savings rate out of the cash transfer deposits, and a 0.4 percentage point increase in the savings rate out of household income.

Suggested Citation

  • Galiani, Sebastian & Gertler, Paul & Navajas-Ahumada, Camila, 2022. "Trust and saving in financial institutions by the poor," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:159:y:2022:i:c:s0304387822001237
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2022.102981
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    Cited by:

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    2. Ghosh, Saibal, 2021. "How important is trust in driving financial inclusion?," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 30(C).
    3. Munacinga Simatele & Loyiso Maciko, 2022. "Financial Inclusion in Rural South Africa: A Qualitative Approach," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-22, August.
    4. Seth Garz & Xavier Gine & Dean Karlan & Rafe Mazer & Caitlin Sanford & Jonathan Zinman, 2021. "Consumer Protection for Financial Inclusion in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Bridging Regulator and Academic Perspectives," Annual Review of Financial Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 13(1), pages 219-246, November.
    5. López, Fernando & Rosas, Guillermo, 2022. "COVID-19 and attitudes towards early withdrawal of pension funds: The role of trust and political ideology," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 23(C).
    6. Jalan, Akanksha & Matkovskyy, Roman & Urquhart, Andrew & Yarovaya, Larisa, 2023. "The role of interpersonal trust in cryptocurrency adoption," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Trust; Savings; Poverty;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General
    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • I30 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General

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