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Financial literacy and its consequences in the emerging middleclass

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  • Grohmann, Antonia
  • Kouwenberg, Roy
  • Menkhoff, Lukas

Abstract

This paper analyzes the state and impact of financial literacy in a so far largely neglected group: the middle class in emerging economies. This group is of increasing importance for implementing structural change, including the proper use of sophisticated financial products. We survey middle class people living in Bangkok and find that higher financial literacy leads to an increased probability of individuals demanding the sophisticated financial products that are available, and more informed use of credit cards. Overall, improving the financial literacy of the emerging middle class provides a double dividend: it increases the welfare of this group and also contributes to financial development, which is a driver of growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Grohmann, Antonia & Kouwenberg, Roy & Menkhoff, Lukas, 2014. "Financial literacy and its consequences in the emerging middleclass," Kiel Working Papers 1943, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:ifwkwp:1943
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    Cited by:

    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. Mohammad Tariqul Islam Khan & Siow-Hooi Tan & Gerald Goh Guan Gan, 2019. "Advanced Financial Literacy of Malaysian Gen Y Investors and Its Consequences," Margin: The Journal of Applied Economic Research, National Council of Applied Economic Research, vol. 13(1), pages 83-108, February.
    3. Grohmann, Antonia & Kouwenberg, Roy & Menkhoff, Lukas, 2015. "Childhood roots of financial literacy," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 114-133.
    4. Yılmaz Bayar & H. Funda Sezgin & Ömer Faruk Öztürk & Mahmut Ünsal Şaşmaz, 2020. "Financial Literacy and Financial Risk Tolerance of Individual Investors: Multinomial Logistic Regression Approach," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(3), pages 21582440209, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Financial literacy; Saving; Borrowing; Development; Instruments;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading

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