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Financial Literacy in the Age of Green Investment
[Evaluating behaviorally motivated policy: experimental evidence from the lightbulb market]

Author

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  • Anders Anderson
  • David T Robinson

Abstract

We survey a large sample of Swedish households and connect the responses to administrative data to relate pro-environmental attitudes and values to actual investment decisions. Pro-environment households are not more likely to hold pro-environment portfolios. This results from financial disengagement: they are less likely to own stocks, check pension balances, or make green active retirement planning choices. Green financial engagement is stronger in settings where financial literacy is higher or where informational hurdles are lower. Informational barriers appear to prevent financial market prices and returns from fully reflecting household environmental preferences.

Suggested Citation

  • Anders Anderson & David T Robinson, 2022. "Financial Literacy in the Age of Green Investment [Evaluating behaviorally motivated policy: experimental evidence from the lightbulb market]," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 26(6), pages 1551-1584.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:revfin:v:26:y:2022:i:6:p:1551-1584.
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    10. Heeb, Florian & Kölbel, Julian & Ramelli, Stefano & Vasileva, Anna, 2024. "Green investing and political behavior," SAFE Working Paper Series 438, Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE.
    11. Buchanan, Bonnie & Silvola, Hanna & Vähämaa, Emilia, 2023. "Sustainability and private investors," Bank of Finland Research Discussion Papers 14/2023, Bank of Finland.
    12. Bucher-Koenen, Tabea & Herforth, Anna-Lena & Kirschenmann, Karolin & Ravanbakhshhabibabadi, Monireh, 2025. "Financing the green transition: The role of private capital," ZEW policy briefs 04/2025, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
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    14. Alberto Montagnoli & Karl Taylor, 2024. "Who Cares about Investing Responsibly? Attitudes and Financial Decisions," Working Papers 2024010, The University of Sheffield, Department of Economics.
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    17. Filippini, Massimo & Leippold, Markus & Wekhof, Tobias, 2024. "Sustainable finance literacy and the determinants of sustainable investing," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    18. Yao, Xingyuan, 2025. "The green premium in sustainable fintech: Cross-country evidence from crowdfunding," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
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