IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/asieco/v68y2020ics1049007820300415.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Financial literacy, financial inclusion, and savings behavior in Laos

Author

Listed:
  • Morgan, Peter J.
  • Long, Trinh Quang

Abstract

This study examines the effects of financial literacy on financial inclusion and savings behavior in Laos. Compared to previous literature, we use a broader definition of financial literacy which covers not only financial knowledge but also financial behavior and financial attitudes. We also use a new definition of financial inclusion which goes beyond the supply-side perspective to consider the consumer’s perspective. To do so, we use the survey instrument designed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development International Network on Financial Education. We also used more reliable instrumental variables to investigate the effects of financial literacy on financial inclusion (and its components) and savings behavior. We find that financial literacy has statistically positive effects on both financial inclusion and savings. Moreover, the effects of financial literacy on different measures of financial inclusion vary. Our results further show that individuals with higher financial literacy scores are more likely to hold savings in both formal and informal forms than those who have lower financial literacy scores, even when we control for income and education.

Suggested Citation

  • Morgan, Peter J. & Long, Trinh Quang, 2020. "Financial literacy, financial inclusion, and savings behavior in Laos," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:asieco:v:68:y:2020:i:c:s1049007820300415
    DOI: 10.1016/j.asieco.2020.101197
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049007820300415
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.asieco.2020.101197?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Grohmann, Antonia & Klühs, Theres & Menkhoff, Lukas, 2018. "Does financial literacy improve financial inclusion? Cross country evidence," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 111, pages 84-96.
    2. Daniel Fernandes & John G. Lynch & Richard G. Netemeyer, 2014. "Financial Literacy, Financial Education, and Downstream Financial Behaviors," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 60(8), pages 1861-1883, August.
    3. Bucher-Koenen, Tabea & Lusardi, Annamaria, 2011. "Financial literacy and retirement planning in Germany," Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, Cambridge University Press, vol. 10(4), pages 565-584, October.
    4. Angus Deaton, 2009. "Instruments of development: Randomization in the tropics, and the search for the elusive keys to economic development," Working Papers 1128, Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Center for Health and Wellbeing..
    5. Allen, Franklin & Demirguc-Kunt, Asli & Klapper, Leora & Martinez Peria, Maria Soledad, 2016. "The foundations of financial inclusion: Understanding ownership and use of formal accounts," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 1-30.
    6. van Rooij, Maarten & Lusardi, Annamaria & Alessie, Rob, 2011. "Financial literacy and stock market participation," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 101(2), pages 449-472, August.
    7. Annamaria Lusardi & Olivia S. Mitchell, 2014. "The Economic Importance of Financial Literacy: Theory and Evidence," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 52(1), pages 5-44, March.
    8. Lusardi, Annamaria & Mitchell, Olivia S., 2007. "Baby Boomer retirement security: The roles of planning, financial literacy, and housing wealth," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(1), pages 205-224, January.
    9. Lasse Brune & Xavier Giné & Jessica Goldberg & Dean Yang, 2016. "Facilitating Savings for Agriculture: Field Experimental Evidence from Malawi," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 64(2), pages 187-220.
    10. Nitin Kumar, 2013. "Financial inclusion and its determinants: evidence from India," Journal of Financial Economic Policy, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 5(1), pages 4-19, February.
    11. Peter J. Morgan & Long Q. Trinh, 2019. "Determinants and Impacts of Financial Literacy in the Lao PD," Working Papers id:13014, eSocialSciences.
    12. Manuela Angelucci & Dean Karlan & Jonathan Zinman, 2015. "Microcredit Impacts: Evidence from a Randomized Microcredit Program Placement Experiment by Compartamos Banco," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 7(1), pages 151-182, January.
    13. Beck, Thorsten & Demirguc-Kunt, Asli & Martinez Peria, Maria Soledad, 2007. "Reaching out: Access to and use of banking services across countries," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(1), pages 234-266, July.
    14. Christelis, Dimitris & Jappelli, Tullio & Padula, Mario, 2010. "Cognitive abilities and portfolio choice," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 54(1), pages 18-38, January.
    15. Nitin Kumar, 2013. "Financial inclusion and its determinants: evidence from India," Journal of Financial Economic Policy, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 5(1), pages 4-19, April.
    16. Asli Demirguc-Kunt & Leora Klapper, 2013. "Measuring Financial Inclusion: Explaining Variation in Use of Financial Services across and within Countries," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 44(1 (Spring), pages 279-340.
    17. Pascaline Dupas & Jonathan Robinson, 2013. "Why Don't the Poor Save More? Evidence from Health Savings Experiments," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 103(4), pages 1138-1171, June.
    18. Olubanjo Michael Adetunji & Olayinka David‐West, 2019. "The Relative Impact of Income and Financial Literacy on Financial Inclusion in Nigeria," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(4), pages 312-335, May.
    19. Han, Rui & Melecky, Martin, 2013. "Financial Inclusion for Stability: Access to Bank Deposits and the Deposit Growth during the Global Financial Crisis," MPRA Paper 45157, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    20. repec:pra:mprapa:48339 is not listed on IDEAS
    21. Robin Burgess & Rohini Pande, 2005. "Do Rural Banks Matter? Evidence from the Indian Social Banking Experiment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 95(3), pages 780-795, June.
    22. Rodrik, Dani, 2008. "The New Development Economics: We Shall Experiment, but How Shall We Learn?," Working Paper Series rwp08-055, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government.
    23. Asli Demirguc-Kunt & Leora Klapper, 2013. "Measuring Financial Inclusion: Explaining Variation in Use of Financial Services across and within Countries," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 46(1 (Spring), pages 279-340.
    24. Annamarie Lusardi & Olivia S. Mitchell, 2005. "Financial Literacy and Planning: Implications for Retirement Wellbeing," Working Papers wp108, University of Michigan, Michigan Retirement Research Center.
    25. Sondra G. Beverly & Marianne A. Hilgert & Jeanne M. Hogarth, 2003. "Household financial management: the connection between knowledge and behavior," Federal Reserve Bulletin, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.), issue Jul, pages 309-322.
    26. repec:pri:cheawb:deaton%20instruments%20of%20development%20keynes%20lecture%202009 is not listed on IDEAS
    27. Miriam Bruhn & Inessa Love, 2014. "The Real Impact of Improved Access to Finance: Evidence from Mexico," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 69(3), pages 1347-1376, June.
    28. Grohmann, Antonia, 2018. "Financial literacy and financial behavior: Evidence from the emerging Asian middle class," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 129-143.
    29. Landerretche, Oscar M. & Martínez, Claudia, 2013. "Voluntary savings, financial behavior, and pension finance literacy: evidence from Chile," Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, Cambridge University Press, vol. 12(3), pages 251-297, July.
    30. Abhijit Banerjee & Esther Duflo & Rachel Glennerster & Cynthia Kinnan, 2015. "The Miracle of Microfinance? Evidence from a Randomized Evaluation," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 7(1), pages 22-53, January.
    31. repec:pri:cheawb:deaton%20instruments%20of%20development%20keynes%20lecture%202009.pdf is not listed on IDEAS
    32. Peter J. Morgan & Long Q. Trinh, 2019. "Determinants and Impacts of Financial Literacy in Cambodia and Viet Nam," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-24, January.
    33. Nurhan Davutyan & Belma Öztürkkal, 2016. "Determinants of Saving-Borrowing Decisions and Financial Inclusion in a High Middle Income Country: The Turkish Case," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(11), pages 2512-2529, November.
    34. Samuel Tawiah Baidoo & Elliot Boateng & Mary Amponsah, 2018. "Understanding the Determinants of Saving in Ghana: Does Financial Literacy Matter?," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(5), pages 886-903, July.
    35. Ghosh, Saibal & Vinod, D., 2017. "What Constrains Financial Inclusion for Women? Evidence from Indian Micro data," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 60-81.
    36. Takeshi Inoue & Shigeyuki Hamori, 2016. "Financial Access and Economic Growth: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(3), pages 743-753, March.
    37. Han, Rui & Melecky, Martin, 2013. "Financial inclusion for financial stability : access to bank deposits and the growth of deposits in the Global Financial Crisis," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6577, The World Bank.
    38. Klapper, Leora & Lusardi, Annamaria & Panos, Georgios A., 2013. "Financial literacy and its consequences: Evidence from Russia during the financial crisis," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(10), pages 3904-3923.
    39. Mitchell, Olivia S. & Lusardi, Annamaria (ed.), 2011. "Financial Literacy: Implications for Retirement Security and the Financial Marketplace," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199696819.
    40. repec:pri:rpdevs:instruments_of_development.pdf is not listed on IDEAS
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Kouladoum, Jean-Claude & Wirajing, Muhamadu Awal Kindzeka & Nchofoung, Tii N., 2022. "Digital technologies and financial inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(9).
    2. Elisabeth Beckmann & Christa Hainz & Sarah Reiter, 2022. "Third-Party Loan Guarantees: Measuring Literacy and its Effect on Financial Decisions (Elisabeth Beckmann, Christa Hainz, Sarah Reiter)," Working Papers 237, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank).
    3. Katherin Carrera-Silva & Olga Maritza Rodríguez Ulcuango & Paula Abdo-Peralta & Ángel Gerardo Castelo Salazar & Carmen Amelia Samaniego Erazo & Diego Haro Ávalos, 2024. "Beyond the Financial Horizon: A Critical Review of Social Responsibility in Latin American Credit Unions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-23, September.
    4. Martinson Ankrah Twumasi & Bright Senyo Dogbe & Ernest Kwarko Ankrah & Zhao Ding & Yuansheng Jiang, 2023. "Assessing Financial Literacy and Farmland Abandonment Relationship in Ghana," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-18, February.
    5. Vavangani Ishtiyaq Nadeem & Khalid Waheed & Arshiya Fathima M.S, 2024. "Financial inclusion of Muslim minority in Vellore, Tamil Nadu," Economic Notes, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA, vol. 53(1), February.
    6. Thi Anh Nhu Nguyen, 2022. "Does Financial Knowledge Matter in Using Fintech Services? Evidence from an Emerging Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-13, April.
    7. Archillies Kiwanuka & Athenia Bongani Sibindi, 2023. "Insurance Literacy: Significance of Its Dimensions for Insurance Inclusion in Uganda," Economies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-17, January.
    8. S. Ananda & Raghavendra Prasanna Kumar & Tamanna Dalwai, 2024. "Impact of financial literacy on savings behavior: the moderation role of risk aversion and financial confidence," Journal of Financial Services Marketing, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 29(3), pages 843-854, September.
    9. Trinh Quang Long & Peter J. Morgan & Naoyuki Yoshino, 2023. "Financial literacy, behavioral traits, and ePayment adoption and usage in Japan," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 9(1), pages 1-30, December.
    10. Lilis Ardini & Mochammad Fahlevi & Mochamad Dandi & Olivia Putri Dahlan & Sahara Putri Dahlan, 2024. "Digital Financial Literacy and Its Impact on Financial Skills and Financial Goals in Indonesia’s Digital Payment Ecosystem," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 7, pages 181-199.
    11. Kais Tissaoui & Abdelaziz Hakimi & Taha Zaghdoudi, 2024. "Can financial inclusion enhance human development? Evidence from low- and middle-income countries," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-14, December.
    12. Balasubramaniam, Vimal & Sane, Renuka & Sharma, Srishti, 2023. "Whose financial grievances go unobserved?," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    13. Błoch Wiktor, 2023. "What drives the savings rate in middle -income countries?," Economics and Business Review, Sciendo, vol. 9(4), pages 56-73, December.
    14. T. K. Murugesan & Edwin Ramirez Asis & Jaheer Mukthar K.P. & Juan Villanueva Calderón & Felix Julca Guerrero & Jorge Castillo Picon & Guillermo Pelaez Diaz, 2022. "Developing and Validating Constructs: A Pragmatic Measurement of Financial Inclusion as a Tool for Sustainable Growth," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-16, October.
    15. Manh-Tung Ho & Ngoc-Thang B. Le & Hung-Long D. Tran & Quoc-Hung Nguyen & Manh-Ha Pham & Minh-Hoang Ly & Manh-Toan Ho & Minh-Hoang Nguyen & Quan-Hoang Vuong, 2021. "A Systematic and Critical Review on the Research Landscape of Finance in Vietnam from 2008 to 2020," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-24, May.
    16. Juan Carlos Urueña-Mejía & Luis H. Gutierrez & Paul Rodríguez-Lesmes, 2023. "Financial inclusion and business practices of microbusiness in Colombia," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 13(2), pages 465-494, June.
    17. Amirreza Kazemikhasragh & Marianna Vanessa Buoni Pineda, 2022. "Financial inclusion and education: An empirical study of financial inclusion in the face of the pandemic emergency due to Covid‐19 in Latin America and the Caribbean," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(3), pages 1785-1797, August.
    18. Shubham Chavriya & Gagan Deep Sharma & Mandeep Mahendru, 2024. "Financial inclusion as a tool for sustainable macroeconomic growth: An integrative analysis," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 95(2), pages 527-551, June.
    19. Azra Zaimovic & Anes Torlakovic & Almira Arnaut-Berilo & Tarik Zaimovic & Lejla Dedovic & Minela Nuhic Meskovic, 2023. "Mapping Financial Literacy: A Systematic Literature Review of Determinants and Recent Trends," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-30, June.
    20. Tan, Jing & Cai, Dongliang & Han, Kefei & Zhou, Kui, 2022. "Understanding peasant household’s land transfer decision-making: A perspective of financial literacy," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    21. Jason Kasozi & Daniel Makina, 2021. "Analysis of financial literacy and its effects on financial inclusion in Uganda," International Journal of Finance & Banking Studies, Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 10(3), pages 67-83, July.
    22. Luiz Antonio Joia & Joaquim Pedro Vasconcelos Cordeiro, 2021. "Unlocking the Potential of Fintechs for Financial Inclusion: A Delphi-Based Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-19, October.
    23. Trinh Xuan Thi Nguyen & Sumeet Lal & Sulemana Abdul-Salam & Mostafa Saidur Rahim Khan & Yoshihiko Kadoya, 2022. "Financial Literacy, Financial Education, and Cancer Screening Behavior: Evidence from Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-17, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Grohmann, Antonia & Klühs, Theres & Menkhoff, Lukas, 2018. "Does financial literacy improve financial inclusion? Cross country evidence," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 84-96.
    2. Dar, Shafkat Shafi & Sahu, Sohini, 2022. "The effect of language on financial inclusion," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    3. N'dri, Lasme Mathieu & Kakinaka, Makoto, 2020. "Financial inclusion, mobile money, and individual welfare: The case of Burkina Faso," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(3).
    4. Ongo Nkoa, Bruno Emmanuel & Song, Jacques Simon, 2020. "Does institutional quality affect financial inclusion in Africa? A panel data analysis," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 44(4).
    5. Sholevar, Maryam & Harris, Laurence, 2019. "Mind the gap: A discussion paper on Financial Literacy, Financial behaviour and Financial Education : Is there any Gender Gap?," OSF Preprints b7zd6, Center for Open Science.
    6. Oscar A. Stolper & Andreas Walter, 2017. "Financial literacy, financial advice, and financial behavior," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 87(5), pages 581-643, July.
    7. Helena Susana Amaral Geraldes & Ana Paula Matias Gama & Mário Augusto, 2022. "Reaching Financial Inclusion: Necessary and Sufficient Conditions," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 162(2), pages 599-617, July.
    8. Azra Zaimovic & Anes Torlakovic & Almira Arnaut-Berilo & Tarik Zaimovic & Lejla Dedovic & Minela Nuhic Meskovic, 2023. "Mapping Financial Literacy: A Systematic Literature Review of Determinants and Recent Trends," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-30, June.
    9. Anderson, Anders & Baker, Forest & Robinson, David T., 2017. "Precautionary savings, retirement planning and misperceptions of financial literacy," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(2), pages 383-398.
    10. Trinh Quang Long & Peter J. Morgan & Naoyuki Yoshino, 2023. "Financial literacy, behavioral traits, and ePayment adoption and usage in Japan," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 9(1), pages 1-30, December.
    11. María-Jesús Gallego-Losada & Antonio Montero-Navarro & Rocío Gallego-Losada & José-Luis Rodríguez-Sánchez, 2024. "Measuring financial divide in the rural environment. The potential role of the digital transformation of finance," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 2791-2810, December.
    12. Ma, Yechi & Ding, Yibing & Bu, Ziwen & Li, Suyang, 2024. "Political freedom and financial inclusion: Unraveling social trust and political rent-seeking," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 46-65.
    13. Grohmann, Antonia, 2018. "Financial literacy and financial behavior: Evidence from the emerging Asian middle class," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 129-143.
    14. Thi Anh Nhu Nguyen & Thi Thuy Huong Luong, 2023. "The Determinants of Financial Inclusion in Vietnam: A Demand-Side Approach," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, November.
    15. Zhao, Yang & Goodell, John W. & Dong, Qingli & Wang, Yong & Abedin, Mohammad Zoynul, 2022. "Overcoming spatial stratification of fintech inclusion: Inferences from across Chinese provinces to guide policy makers," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    16. French, Declan & McKillop, Donal, 2016. "Financial literacy and over-indebtedness in low-income households," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 1-11.
    17. Kass-Hanna, Josephine & Lyons, Angela C. & Liu, Fan, 2022. "Building financial resilience through financial and digital literacy in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(PA).
    18. Bose, Udichibarna & MacDonald, Ronald & Tsoukas, Serafeim, 2015. "Education and the local equity bias around the world," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 65-88.
    19. Peter J. Morgan & Long Q. Trinh, 2019. "Determinants and Impacts of Financial Literacy in Cambodia and Viet Nam," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-24, January.
    20. Davoli, Maddalena & Rodríguez-Planas, Núria, 2020. "Culture and adult financial literacy: Evidence from the United States," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:asieco:v:68:y:2020:i:c:s1049007820300415. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/asieco .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.