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Beyond knowledge: Confidence and the gender gap in financial literacy

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  • Cziriak, Marius
  • Bucher-Koenen, Tabea
  • Alessie, Rob

Abstract

Women are less likely to correctly answer the "Big-3" financial literacy questions, and a substantial share of the gap reflects women's lower confidence. In our experiment, women are more likely to choose "do not know" or refuse to answer financial literacy questions. If these options are not available, the gender gap decreases substantially. We build on the method proposed by Bucher-Koenen et al. (2021) and provide an easy-to-implement survey design applicable in cross-sectional studies that allows us to disentangle financial knowledge and confidence. We find that both financial knowledge and confidence are related to participation in the stock market.

Suggested Citation

  • Cziriak, Marius & Bucher-Koenen, Tabea & Alessie, Rob, 2024. "Beyond knowledge: Confidence and the gender gap in financial literacy," ZEW Discussion Papers 24-083, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:zewdip:312571
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    financial knowledge; gender gap; financial decision making; measurement error; survey methodology;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G53 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Financial Literacy
    • C81 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Microeconomic Data; Data Access
    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making

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