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The Effects of Perceived and Actual Financial Knowledge on Credit Card Behavior

Author

Listed:
  • Sam Allgood
  • William B. Walstad

Abstract

This study uses a combined measure of financial literacy or financial knowledge that includes both a test score of actual financial knowledge and a self-assessment of overall financial knowledge. The combined measure provides greater understanding about how financial knowledge affects financial behavior. The study uses a large national survey of U.S. adults and households (n=28,146) to investigate how financial knowledge affects typical behaviors related to credit card use. The five behaviors include paying credit card balances on time, carrying over a balance and paying interest on it, making only a minimum payment on a credit card, being charged a late fee, and going over a credit card limit. The results from the probit analysis show that actual financial knowledge and perceived financial knowledge both significantly influence credit card behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Sam Allgood & William B. Walstad, 2011. "The Effects of Perceived and Actual Financial Knowledge on Credit Card Behavior," NFI Working Papers 2011-WP-15, Indiana State University, Scott College of Business, Networks Financial Institute.
  • Handle: RePEc:nfi:nfiwps:2011-wp-15
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. van Rooij, Maarten & Lusardi, Annamaria & Alessie, Rob, 2011. "Financial literacy and stock market participation," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 101(2), pages 449-472, August.
    2. Courchane, Marsha & Gailey, Adam & Zorn, Peter, 2008. "Consumer credit literacy: What price perception," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 60(1-2), pages 125-138.
    3. Lusardi, Annamaria & Mitchell, Olivia S., 2007. "Baby Boomer retirement security: The roles of planning, financial literacy, and housing wealth," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(1), pages 205-224, January.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Mazzoli, Camilla & Ferretti, Riccardo & Filotto, Umberto, 2024. "Financial literacy and financial advice seeking: Does product specificity matter?," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 98-110.
    3. Ester Muñoz-Céspedes & Raquel Ibar-Alonso & Sara de Lorenzo Ros, 2021. "Financial Literacy and Sustainable Consumer Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-21, August.
    4. Hyrum Smith & Michael Finke & Sandra Huston, 2012. "Financial Sophistication and Housing Leverage Among Older Households," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 33(3), pages 315-327, September.
    5. Theodos, Brett & Stacy, Christina Plerhoples & Daniels, Rebecca, 2018. "Client led coaching: A random assignment evaluation of the impacts of financial coaching programs," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 140-158.
    6. G. Gulsun Akin & Ahmet Faruk Aysan & Sezgim Dasdogen & Levent Yildiran, 2019. "Credit Card Debt: Nescience or Necessity?," Working Papers 1315, Economic Research Forum, revised 21 Aug 2019.
    7. Alexa Balmuth & Julie Miller & Samantha Brady & Lisa D’Ambrosio & Joseph Coughlin, 2021. "Mothers, Fathers, and Student Loans: Contributing Factors of Familial Conflict Among Parents Repaying Student Loan Debt for Children," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 42(2), pages 335-350, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance

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