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Financial literacy among the young: Evidence and implications for consumer policy

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  • Lusardi, Annamaria
  • Mitchell, Olivia S.
  • Curto, Vilsa

Abstract

We examined financial literacy among the young using the most recent wave of the 1997 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. We showed that financial literacy is low; fewer than one-third of young adults possess basic knowledge of interest rates, inflation, and risk diversification. Financial literacy was strongly related to sociodemographic characteristics and family financial sophistication. Specifically, a college-educated male whose parents had stocks and retirement savings was about 45 percentage points more likely to know about risk diversification than a female with less than a high school education whose parents were not wealthy. These findings have implications for consumer policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Lusardi, Annamaria & Mitchell, Olivia S. & Curto, Vilsa, 2010. "Financial literacy among the young: Evidence and implications for consumer policy," CFS Working Paper Series 2010/09, Center for Financial Studies (CFS).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:cfswop:201009
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Financial Knowledge; Peer Effects; Family Background;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making

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