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The effectiveness of smartphone apps in improving financial capability

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  • Declan French
  • Donal McKillop
  • Elaine Stewart

Abstract

This study is the first to assess whether smartphone apps can be utilised to improve financially capable behaviours. In this study four smartphone apps, packaged together under the title ‘Money Matters’, were provided to working-age members (16–65 years) of the largest credit union in Northern Ireland (Derry Credit Union). The smartphone apps consisted of a loan interest comparison app, an expenditure comparison app, a cash calendar app, and a debt management app. The assessment methodology used was a Randomised Control Trial (RCT) with the U.K. Financial Capability Outcome Frameworks used to set the context for the assessment. For those receiving the apps (the treatment group) statistically significant improvements were found in a number of measures designed to gauge ‘financial knowledge, understanding and basic skills’ and ‘attitudes and motivations’. These improvements translated into better financially capable behaviours; those receiving the apps were more likely to keep track of their income and expenditure and proved to be more resilient when faced with a financial shock.

Suggested Citation

  • Declan French & Donal McKillop & Elaine Stewart, 2020. "The effectiveness of smartphone apps in improving financial capability," The European Journal of Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(4-5), pages 302-318, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:eurjfi:v:26:y:2020:i:4-5:p:302-318
    DOI: 10.1080/1351847X.2019.1639526
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Prince Hikouatcha & Alain Gilles Tagne Foka & Armand Depesquidoux Fossi & Simplice A Asongu, 2024. "Empirical investigation of the Fintech and financial literacy nexus: Small business managers’ insights in Cameroon," African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(2), pages 219-237, February.
    2. Alessio D'Ignazio & Paolo Finaldi Russo & Massimiliano Stacchini, 2022. "Micro-entrepreneurs’ financial and digital competences during the pandemic in Italy," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 724, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    3. Frisancho, Veronica & Herrera, Alejandro & Prina, Silvia, 2023. "Can a mobile-app-based behavioral intervention teach financial skills to youth? Experimental evidence from a financial diaries study," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 214(C), pages 595-614.
    4. David Aristei & Manuela Gallo, 2021. "Financial Knowledge, Confidence, and Sustainable Financial Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-21, September.
    5. Blanco, Luisa R. & Hernandez, Isaias & Thames, April D. & Chen, Lucia & Serido, Joyce, 2023. "Mind your money: A community-based digital intervention for improving financial capability among Hispanics," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 629-643.
    6. Santiago Carbó-Valverde & Pedro J. Cuadros-Solas & Francisco Rodríguez-Fernández, 2022. "Entrepreneurial, institutional and financial strategies for FinTech profitability," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 8(1), pages 1-36, December.
    7. Magda Bianco & Daniela Marconi & Angela Romagnoli & Massimiliano Stacchini, 2022. "Challenges for financial inclusion: the role for financial education and new directions," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 723, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    8. Eryka Probierz & Adam Galuszka & Tomasz Grzejszczak & Karol Jedrasiak & Tomasz Wisniewski & Tomasz Dzida, 2022. "Overview of Financial Applications for Investing on the Stock Exchange - Regression Models and Sentiment Analysis," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(1), pages 395-408.
    9. Tiina Koskelainen & Panu Kalmi & Eusebio Scornavacca & Tero Vartiainen, 2023. "Financial literacy in the digital age—A research agenda," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(1), pages 507-528, January.

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