Behavior Change Among Savings Program Participants

Loibl, C., Grinstein-Weiss, M., Zhan, M. & Red Bird, B. (2010). More than a penny saved: Long-term changes in behavior among savings program participants. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 44, (1): 98-126. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6606.2010.01159.x.

Brief Description: The study explored the long-term effectiveness of low-income individuals’ participation in a federally funded matched savings program. To collect data, a survey was mailed to former program participants in Ohio, and compared with the responses of a general low-income population sample. The results document that …

Effects of Information on Consumers’ Perceptions of Mutual Funds

 

Kozup, John C., Elizabeth Howlett and Michael Pagano (2008), The Effects of Summary Information on Consumer Perceptions of Mutual Fund Characteristics, Journal Consumer Affairs, 42(1), 37-59.

Brief Description: Choosing how to best invest for retirement is one of the most important decisions a consumer can make. Unfortunately, this can be an especially challenging task given the current financial information disclosure environment. The objective of this research was to explore whether a single page supplemental information disclosure impacts investors’ fund …

Impact of Personal Finance Education

 

Peng, T.-C., Bartholomae, S., Fox, J. & Cravener, G. (2007). The impact of personal finance education delivered in high school and college courses. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 28(2), 265-284.

Brief Description: This study investigated the impacts of personal finance education delivered in high school and college. Outcomes of interest were investment knowledge and household savings rates measured years after the financial education was delivered. A web-based survey was taken by 1,039 alumni from a large Midwestern university. …

Women in Business-owning Families

 

Philbrick, C. & Fitzgerald, M. (2007). Women in business-owning families: A comparison of roles, responsibilities and predictions of family functionality. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 28(4), 618-634.

Brief Description: This paper compares groups of women associated with family businesses in order to determine what factors predict how they function. Using the Sustainable Family Business (SFB) model, family and business characteristics are studied, as well as areas of interface between family and business systems. Results of this study indicate …

Teachers’ Preparation for Teaching Personal Finance

 

Way, W. L. & Holden, K.C. (2009). Teachers’ background and capacity to teach personal finance: Results of a national study. Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning Education, 20(2), 64-78.

Brief Description: An increasing number of state mandates have expanded financial education at the elementary, secondary, and postsecondary levels. An online survey of 504 grade K-12 teachers was conducted to determine teachers’ background and capacity to teach personal finance. Results indicated that teachers recognized the importance of teaching personal finance …

Consumer Preferences for Car Loan Features

 

Wonder, N., Wilhelm, W., & Fewings, D. (2008). The financial rationality of consumer loan choices: revealed preferences concerning interest rates, down payments, contract length, and rebates. The Journal of Consumer Affairs, 42(2), 243-270.

Brief Description: This work studied consumer preferences for car loan features. The results revealed preferences that conflicted with traditional financial rationality. For example, participants avoided choosing long term (six- or seven-year) loans even when the interest rate was zero. In addition, the consumers, particularly those with …

Teacher Training in Personal Finance and Student’s Test Scores

 

Swinton, J., De Berry, T, Scafidi, B., & Woodard, H. (2007). The Impact of Financial Education Workshops for Teachers on Students’ Economic Achievement, The Journal of Consumer Education, 24, 63-77.

 

Brief Description: Many states emphasize personal finance as an essential skill for graduating seniors. Unfortunately, many high school teachers are inadequately trained in personal finance. The National Council on Economic Education (NCEE) has developed an extensive curriculum, and its state affiliates offer workshops to help teachers deliver its personal …

Parental Influence and Teens’ Attitude toward Online Privacy Protection

 

Youn, S. (2008, Fall). Parental Influence and Teens’ Attitude toward Online Privacy Protection. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 42(3), 362-388.

Brief Description: This study investigated how parental influence affects teens’ attitude toward online privacy protection. Teens living in a family that values concept-oriented family communication tended to engage in discussion mediation, which increased their level of privacy concern. In contrast, teens living in environments with high socio-oriented communication tended to have more family rules and surf the Internet with parents. …

Consumers’ Accuracy in Estimating their Credit Ratings

Perry, V. G. (2008), Is Ignorance Bliss? Consumer Accuracy in Judgments about Credit Ratings, The Journal of Consumer Affairs, 42(2), Summer, 189-205.

Brief Description: This study examines the accuracy of consumers’ self-assessments of their credit ratings. Findings suggest that approximately 32 percent of consumers overestimate their credit ratings while only 4 percent underestimate them. Those who overestimate their credit ratings are less knowledgeable about financial matters, are more likely to have acquired their financial knowledge from difficult past experiences, …

Credit Card Ownership by High School Seniors

Scott, R. H., Jr. (2010). Credit Card Ownership Among American High School Seniors: 1997-2008. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 31, 151-160.

Brief Description: High school is when many students get their first credit cards. Jump$tart for Financial Literacy has tested the personal financial knowledge of high school students from across the U.S. since 1997. Using data from the Jump$tart surveys, this study compared the characteristics of various groups of high school students with and without credit cards. Students with …