Financial Knowledge and Household Saving: Evidence from the Survey of Consumer Finances

Abstract

This study analyzed the relationship between financial knowledge and household saving behavior using the 2016 Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) dataset. The results from a hierarchical model showed that both objective knowledge and perceived financial knowledge were positively related to the likelihood of being a saver. The explanatory power of the regression models increased significantly when financial knowledge variables were added. Furthermore, the results were robust across different measurements of household savings and additional analyses using the 2015 National Financial Capability Study (NFCS) dataset. Educators, policymakers, and financial institutions can benefit from these results as they develop programs, policies, and products to motivate and promote saving behavior. © 2018 American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences