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Financial literacy in Austria – focus on millennials

Author

Listed:
  • Pirmin Fessler

    (Oesterreichische Nationalbank, Economic Analysis Division)

  • Marilies Jelovsek

    (Oesterreichische Nationalbank)

  • Maria Antoinette Silgoner

    (Oesterreichische Nationalbank)

Abstract

This article summarizes the main findings from the second wave of the Austrian Survey of Financial Literacy (ASFL), the Austrian contribution to the OECD/INFE survey on adult financial literacy, which was conducted in spring 2019. As compared to the previous survey round in 2014, the financial knowledge of Austrian residents seems to have increased significantly. While men outperform women in terms of financial knowledge, they score slightly worse in terms of financial behavior and attitudes. Austrian residents are rather prudent, risk averse and forward looking and have a good overview of their finances. In general, financial literacy is rather equally distributed across age groups. However, 15- to 38-year-olds (hereinafter called millennials) differ from other age cohorts in several respects: They have relatively low levels of financial literacy, are less financially organized, and they show more risky and less forward looking behavior. At the same time, they are more open to digital means of payments and financial innovations in general. Even though the observed differences are not very large and may vanish as millennials mature and gain experience with business and finance, we deem it important to monitor the financial literacy development for this group, given the rising complexity of financial decisions many among this group will face and the tremendous financial resources they will ultimately inherit.

Suggested Citation

  • Pirmin Fessler & Marilies Jelovsek & Maria Antoinette Silgoner, 2020. "Financial literacy in Austria – focus on millennials," Monetary Policy & the Economy, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank), issue Q3/20, pages 21-38.
    • Handle: RePEc:onb:oenbmp:y:2020:i:q3/20:b:2
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Annamaria Lusardi & Olivia S. Mitchell, 2008. "Planning and Financial Literacy: How Do Women Fare?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 98(2), pages 413-417, May.
    2. Adele Atkinson & Flore-Anne Messy, 2012. "Measuring Financial Literacy: Results of the OECD / International Network on Financial Education (INFE) Pilot Study," OECD Working Papers on Finance, Insurance and Private Pensions 15, OECD Publishing.
    3. Bettina Greimel-Fuhrmann & Maria Antoinette Silgoner & Rosa Weber, 2015. "Financial literacy gaps of the Austrian population," Monetary Policy & the Economy, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank), issue 2, pages 35-51.
    4. Bettina Greimel-Fuhrmann & Maria Silgoner, 2017. "Finanzwissen und finanzielles Wohlbefinden – Frauen sind nicht grundsätzlich im Nachteil," Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung / Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 86(4), pages 123-136.
    5. 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.
    6. Andrej Cupak & Pirmin Fessler & Maria Antoinette Silgoner & Elisabeth Ulbrich, 2018. "Financial literacy in Austria: a survey of recent research results," Monetary Policy & the Economy, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank), issue Q1/18, pages 14-26.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bucher-Koenen, Tabea & Fessler, Pirmin & Silgoner, Maria Antoinette, 2023. "Households' financial resilience, risk perceptions, and financial literacy: Evidence from a survey experiment," ZEW Discussion Papers 23-074, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    2. Pavel Ciaian & Andrej Cupak & Pirmin Fessler & d'Artis Kancs, 2022. "Environmental-Social-Governance Preferences and the Holding of Crypto-Assets," EERI Research Paper Series EERI RP 2022/07, Economics and Econometrics Research Institute (EERI), Brussels.
    3. Pavel Ciaian & Andrej Cupak & Pirmin Fessler & d’Artis Kancs, 2022. "Environmental and Social Preferences and Investments in Crypto-Assets," JRC Research Reports JRC129919, Joint Research Centre.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    financial literacy; financial education; financial stability; survey data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A20 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - General
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis

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