The Mullen Lecture, hosted by the Department of Economics

The Importance of Financial Literacy: Lessons From Many Years of Data

In this seminar, Dr. Lusardi will present data from the Big Three (three questions to measure financial literacy), the Personal Finance Index (twenty-eight questions to measure financial literacy), and new information from the Consumer Expectations Survey from the European Central Bank to document very low levels of financial literacy in the United States and around the world. Looking at the data from a personal finance approach, she will show how financial literacy affects financial decision-making, from managing assets to debt and debt management, and the consequences of low financial knowledge for individuals and society as well. Dr. Lusardi will discuss the implications of her findings for policy, including national strategies for financial literacy. She will also discuss the importance of teaching personal finance in school and college.

Organized by the Department of Economics and cosponsored by the Center for Social Science Scholarship.