Financial Literacy Externalities

A-Tier
Journal: The Review of Financial Studies
Year: 2020
Volume: 33
Issue: 2
Pages: 950-989

Authors (4)

Michael Haliassos (Goethe Universität Frankfurt a...) Thomas Jansson (not in RePEc) Yigitcan Karabulut (not in RePEc) Lauren Cohen (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 4 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We use unique administrative data and a quasi-field experiment of exogenous allocation in Sweden to estimate medium- and longer-run effects of peoples’ exposure to financially literate neighbors on their financial behavior. We contribute evidence of (1) a causal impact of exposure and of a social multiplier of financial knowledge and (2) unfavorable distributional aspects of externalities. Exposure promotes saving in private retirement accounts and stockholding, especially when neighbors have economics or business education, but only for educated households and for substantial interaction possibilities. Findings point to a transfer of knowledge rather than mere imitation or effects through labor, education, or mobility channels.Authors have furnished code/data/an Internet Appendix, which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:rfinst:v:33:y:2020:i:2:p:950-989.
Journal Field
Finance
Author Count
4
Added to Database
2026-01-25