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Impact of inflated perceptions of financial literacy on financial decision making

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  • Balasubramnian, Bhanu
  • Sargent, Carol Springer

Abstract

We examine whether inflated perceptions of financial literacy affect financial decision making. Gaps between objective financial literacy and self-reported (perceived) financial literacy (blind spots) predict 19 financial behaviors better than age, gender, income, ethnicity, marital status, self-employment status, and general education levels. Only two predictors, perceived financial literacy and financial education, carried similar levels of predictive power on financial behaviors. Those with inflated perceptions of financial literacy are more likely to miss mortgage payments, receive a collection call, use informal debt, and have poor banking behavior. Those without blind spots make better financial decisions. The differences between those with and without blind spots are more pronounced among individuals with higher education and income.

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  • Balasubramnian, Bhanu & Sargent, Carol Springer, 2020. "Impact of inflated perceptions of financial literacy on financial decision making," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joepsy:v:80:y:2020:i:c:s0167487020300672
    DOI: 10.1016/j.joep.2020.102306
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    2. Łukasz Gębski & Georges Daw, 2024. "Consumers’ Financial Knowledge in Central European Countries in the Light of Consumer Research ["Littératie" financière en Europe Centrale à la lumière de la recherche récente sur la cons," Post-Print hal-04678764, HAL.
    3. Arvid O. I. Hoffmann & Daria Plotkina, 2021. "Let your past define your future? How recalling successful financial experiences can increase beliefs of self‐efficacy in financial planning," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(3), pages 847-871, September.
    4. Oberrauch, Luis & Kaiser, Tim & Seeber, Günther, 2023. "Measuring economic competence of youth with a short scale," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    5. Łukasz Gębski & Georges Daw, 2024. "Consumers’ Financial Knowledge in Central European Countries in the Light of Consumer Research," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-22, August.
    6. Yuanyuan Guo & Can Liu & Hao Liu & Ke Chen & Dan He, 2023. "Financial Literacy, Borrowing Behavior and Rural Households’ Income: Evidence from the Collective Forest Area, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-21, January.
    7. Bucciol, Alessandro & Quercia, Simone & Sconti, Alessia, 2021. "Promoting financial literacy among the elderly: Consequences on confidence," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    8. Rogge, Nicky, 2021. "When the cost has sunk: Measuring and comparing the sunk-cost bias in autistic and neurotypical persons," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    9. Cascavilla, Alessandro, 2024. "Between money and speculative asset: The role of financial literacy on the perception towards Bitcoin in Italy," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    10. Nur Alya Afiqah Binti Mahat & Wei-Theng Lau, 2023. "Financial Literacy, Experience, Risk Tolerance and Investment Behavior: Observations during Pandemic," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(10), pages 558-573, October.
    11. Muhamad Bhayuta Yudhi Putera & Melia Famiola, 2024. "Attitudinal Loyalty Manifestation in Banking CSR: Cross-Buying Behavior and Customer Advocacy," Papers 2404.11063, arXiv.org.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Financial literacy; Financial capability; Consumer economics; Cognitive biases; Dunning-Kruger effect; Overconfidence;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • G41 - Financial Economics - - Behavioral Finance - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making in Financial Markets

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