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Financial literacy and retirement planning in the United States*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 October 2011

ANNAMARIA LUSARDI  and
OLIVIA S. MITCHELL
ANNAMARIA LUSARDI
Affiliation:
The George Washington University School of Business and Netspar (e-mail: alusardi@gwu.edu)
OLIVIA S. MITCHELL
Affiliation:
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (e-mail: mitchelo@wharton.upenn.edu)
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Abstract

We examine financial literacy in the US 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 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 programmes to those in most need.

Keywords

Retirementpensionssavingfinancial literacyfinancial capability
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Pension Economics & Finance , Volume 10 , Issue 4 , October 2011 , pp. 509 - 525
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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