Financial literacy and its consequences: Evidence from Russia during the financial crisis

Leora Klapper, Annamaria Lusardi () and Georgios Panos ()

Journal of Banking & Finance, 2013, vol. 37, issue 10, 3904-3923

Abstract: The ability of consumers to make informed financial decisions improves their ability to develop sound personal finance. This paper uses a panel data set from Russia, an economy in which household debt has grown at an astounding rate, to examine the importance of financial literacy and its effects on behavior. The paper studies both the financial and real consequences of financial illiteracy. Even though consumer borrowing increased very rapidly in Russia, only 41% of respondents demonstrate an understanding of interest compounding and only 46% can answer a simple question about inflation. Financial literacy is positively related to participation in financial markets and negatively related to the use of informal sources of borrowing. Moreover, individuals with higher financial literacy are significantly less likely to report experiencing a negative income shock during 2009 and have greater availability of unspent income and higher spending capacity. The relationship between financial literacy and availability of unspent income is higher in 2009, suggesting that financial literacy may better equip individuals to deal with macroeconomic shocks.

Keywords: Financial literacy; Financial crisis; Financial inclusion; Russia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D14 D91 E21 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (126)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:37:y:2013:i:10:p:3904-3923

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2013.07.014

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