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The effects of high school personal financial education policies on financial behavior

Author

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  • Urban, Carly
  • Schmeiser, Maximilian
  • Collins, J. Michael
  • Brown, Alexandra

Abstract

High schools in the United States are increasingly requiring their students to complete financial education prior to graduation. This study estimates the effects of these requirements on the credit report outcomes of 18- through 21-year-olds—young people just establishing their financial independence. We find that financial education requirements are associated with fewer defaults and higher credit scores among young adults, but this general finding masks important heterogeneity at the state level. We conclude that well-funded teacher preparation may be key to successfully implementing financial education programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Urban, Carly & Schmeiser, Maximilian & Collins, J. Michael & Brown, Alexandra, 2020. "The effects of high school personal financial education policies on financial behavior," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:78:y:2020:i:c:s0272775718301699
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2018.03.006
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    2. Lusardi, Annamaria & Kaiser, Tim, 2024. "Financial literacy and financial education: An overview," CEPR Discussion Papers 19185, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    3. Urban, Carly, 2022. "Does State-Mandated Financial Education Reduce High School Graduation Rates?," IZA Discussion Papers 15402, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Horia Ioan Tulai & Codruța Maria Făt & Daniela Georgeta, 2021. "The current framework of financial education in Romania in the context of the informational economy," Journal of Financial Studies, Institute of Financial Studies, vol. 10(6), pages 33-47, May.
    5. Dur, Robert & Fleming, Dimitry & van Garderen, Marten & van Lent, Max, 2021. "A social norm nudge to save more: A field experiment at a retail bank," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    6. Man Yao & Tori I. Rehr & Erica P. Regan, 2023. "Gender Differences in Financial Knowledge among College Students: Evidence from a Recent Multi-institutional Survey," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 44(3), pages 693-713, September.
    7. Corsini, Lorenzo & Giannelli, Gianna Claudia, 2021. "Economics education and financial literacy acquisition: Evidence from a field experiment," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 32(C).
    8. L’Esperance, Madelaine, 2023. "Nudging credit union members to check their credit: Evidence from a field experiment," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(C).
    9. Kaiser, Tim & Lusardi, Annamaria & Menkhoff, Lukas & Urban, Carly, 2022. "Financial education affects financial knowledge and downstream behaviors," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(2), pages 255-272.
    10. Casiana ILLE, 2021. "Trends And Perspectives On Entrepreneurial Education In Romania And The Eu," Annals of Faculty of Economics, University of Oradea, Faculty of Economics, vol. 30(2), pages 54-64, December.
    11. Silvia Mariela Méndez-Prado & Vanessa Rodriguez & Kevin Peralta-Rizzo & Patricia Everaert & Martin Valcke, 2023. "An Assessment Tool to Identify the Financial Literacy Level of Financial Education Programs Participants’ Executed by Ecuadorian Financial Institutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-24, January.
    12. Kaiser, Tim & Oberrauch, Luis, 2021. "Economic education at the expense of indoctrination? Evidence from Germany," EconStor Preprints 245801, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    13. Alison Preston & Robert E. Wright, 2024. "When Does the Gender Gap in Financial Literacy Begin?," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 100(328), pages 44-73, March.
    14. Maxwell Mensah Okpoti & Williams Kwasi Peprah, 2024. "The Mediating Effect of Financial Literacy on Blockchain Technology Application and Financial Risk: Insight from Ghanaian Professionals towards Policy Recommendations," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 14(6), pages 239-249, October.
    15. Luedtke, Allison Oldham & Urban, Carly, 2021. "Do High Schools Choose Financial Education Policies Based on Their Neighbors?," IZA Discussion Papers 14288, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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