Financial Literacy and Retirement Planning in the United States / Annamaria Lusardi, Olivia S. Mitchell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lusardi, Annamaria.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Mitchell, Olivia S.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w17108.

NBER working paper series no. w17108

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2011.

Summary:

We examine financial literacy in the United States using the new National Financial Capability Study, wherein we demonstrate that financial literacy is particularly low among the young, women, and the less-educated. Moreover, Hispanics and African-Americans score the least well on financial literacy concepts. Interestingly, all groups rate themselves as rather well-informed about financial matters, notwithstanding their actual performance on the key literacy questions. Finally, we show that people who score higher on the financial literacy questions are also much more likely to plan for retirement, which is likely to leave them better positioned for old-age. Our results will inform those seeking to target financial literacy programs to those in most need.

Notes:

Print version record

June 2011.