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The Importance of Financial Literacy: Opening a New Field

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  • Annamaria Lusardi
  • Olivia S. Mitchell

Abstract

We undertake an assessment of our two decades of research on financial literacy, building on our empirical research and theoretical work casting financial knowledge as a form of investment in human capital. We also draw on recent data to determine who is the most—and least—financially savvy in the United States, and we highlight the similarity of our results in other countries. A number of convincing studies is now available, from which we draw conclusions about the effects and consequences of financial illiteracy, and what can be done to fill these gaps. We conclude by offering our thoughts on implications for teaching, policy, and future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Annamaria Lusardi & Olivia S. Mitchell, 2023. "The Importance of Financial Literacy: Opening a New Field," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 37(4), pages 137-154, Fall.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:jecper:v:37:y:2023:i:4:p:137-54
    DOI: 10.1257/jep.37.4.137
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    Cited by:

    1. Lo Prete, Anna, 2024. "Digital and financial literacy and the development of e-government platforms," Department of Economics and Statistics Cognetti de Martiis. Working Papers 202411, University of Turin.
    2. Chung, Sol & Agnew, Julie & Bateman, Hazel & Eckert, Christine & Liu, Junhao & Thorp, Susan, 2024. "The impact of mortgage broker use on borrower confusion and preferences," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 229-247.
    3. Hospido, Laura & Iriberri, Nagore & Machelett, Margarita, 2023. "Gender gaps in financial literacy: a multi-arm RCT to break the response bias in surveys," CEPR Discussion Papers 18646, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    4. Donato Masciandaro, 2023. "Politicians, Trust and Financial Literacy: When Do Politicians Care?," BAFFI CAREFIN Working Papers 23206, BAFFI CAREFIN, Centre for Applied Research on International Markets Banking Finance and Regulation, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy.
    5. Cziriak, Marius & Bucher-Koenen, Tabea & Alessie, Rob, 2024. "Beyond knowledge: Confidence and the Gender Gap in Financial Literacy," VfS Annual Conference 2024 (Berlin): Upcoming Labor Market Challenges 302421, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    6. Lusardi, Annamaria & Kaiser, Tim, 2024. "Financial literacy and financial education: An overview," CEPR Discussion Papers 19185, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    7. Aristei, David & Gallo, Manuela & Vannoni, Valeria, 2024. "Preferences for ethical intermediaries and sustainable investment decisions in micro-firms: The role of financial literacy and digital financial capability," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    8. Bellocchi, Alessandro & Travaglini, Giuseppe, 2024. "Financial literacy, uncertainty and costs of education," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 238(C).
    9. Christos I. Giannikos & Efstathia D. Korkou, 2023. "Gender and Risk-Taking in the Building of U.S. Retirement Wealth," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 51(4), pages 259-274, December.
    10. Carolina Guerini & Donato Masciandaro, 2023. "Financial Education between Market and State: Private Commitment, Conflicts of Interest and Public Certification," BAFFI CAREFIN Working Papers 23213, BAFFI CAREFIN, Centre for Applied Research on International Markets Banking Finance and Regulation, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy.
    11. Oberrauch, Luis & Kaiser, Tim, 2024. "Digital Interventions to Increase Financial Knowledge: Evidence from a Pilot RCT," IZA Discussion Papers 16811, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    12. Jones, Michael & Luu, Truong (Jack) & Samuel, Binny, 2024. "The interdependence of financial literacy and crypto literacy," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).
    13. Barrafrem, Kinga & Västfjäll, Daniel & Tinghög, Gustav, 2024. "Financial Homo Ignorans: Development and validation of a scale to measure individual differences in financial information ignorance," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
    14. Luis Oberrauch & Tim Kaiser, 2024. "Financial Education or Incentivizing Learning-by-Doing? Evidence from an RCT with Undergraduate Students," CESifo Working Paper Series 11187, CESifo.
    15. Donato Masciandaro, 2023. "Politicians, Trust, Financial Literacy and Financial Education: When Do Politicians Care?," BAFFI CAREFIN Working Papers 23208, BAFFI CAREFIN, Centre for Applied Research on International Markets Banking Finance and Regulation, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy.
    16. Ceyla Antonio-Anderson & Elena Fuentes & Maricela Carolina Peña Cárdenas, 2024. "Incidencia de los factores socioeconómicos en la alfabetización financiera," Remef - Revista Mexicana de Economía y Finanzas Nueva Época REMEF (The Mexican Journal of Economics and Finance), Instituto Mexicano de Ejecutivos de Finanzas, IMEF, vol. 19(1), pages 1-25, Enero - M.
    17. Bertola, Giuseppe & Lo Prete, Anna, 2024. "Financial Literacy and Resilience when Survey Respondents Prefer Guessing to Admitting Ignorance," Department of Economics and Statistics Cognetti de Martiis. Working Papers 202406, University of Turin.
    18. Giulio Cornelli & Leonardo Gambacorta & Livia Pancotto, 2023. "Buy now, pay later: a cross-country analysis," BIS Quarterly Review, Bank for International Settlements, December.
    19. Riccardo Calcagno & Paolo Finaldi Russo & Ludovica Galotto & Anita Quas, 2024. "Financial literacy of micro-entrepreneurs and access to credit," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 853, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    20. Carolina Guerini & Donato Masciandaro & Alessia Papini, 2024. "Literacy and Financial Education: Private Providers, Public Certification and Political Preferences," BAFFI CAREFIN Working Papers 24223, BAFFI CAREFIN, Centre for Applied Research on International Markets Banking Finance and Regulation, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • G51 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Household Savings, Borrowing, Debt, and Wealth
    • G53 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Financial Literacy

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