L’educazione finanziaria degli studenti universitari: misurazione e analisi delle determinanti

The study surveys 1087 university students to examine their personal financial literacy and the relationship between financial literacy and respondents’ sociodemographic characteristics and family background. First-year and third-year business and non-business students are analysed. The questionnaire administered is designed to test knowledge and skills across a range of specific areas of financial literacy as well as collect extensive details regarding study characteristics, demographic characteristics, family background, and self-perception of knowledge. The study finds that financial literacy among university students is not high and that lack of financial knowledge is widespread. Results show that participants answer about 63% of questions correctly. We find gender differences, with male students performing in average better than females. Financial literacy seems to improve with age, personal interest in financial matters and family financial sophistication. Work experience, living alone, personal educational attainment, and parents’ education appear to be not strongly related to financial literacy. Paradoxically, students who feel less confident about their financial skills are less interested in financial education programs. Our finding is consistent with other studies that show that most young adults are not well equipped to make correct financial decisions.