Financial literacy in individuals trained in economics, management, finance and accounting

Abstract

This study aims to analyse and compare the perception and the knowledge of financial literacy of the Portuguese with training in Economics, Management, Finance, and/or Accounting. It is used a quantitative methodology based on a questionnaire that studies the perception of financial literacy and assesses financial literacy knowledge. The sample is formed by 395 Portuguese individuals with training in Economics, Management, Finance, and/or Accounting. The obtained results show that the scale of financial literacy perception presents a structure with three factors: 1–2 year financial goals and planning, long-term saving, and taste for numerical calculations. The results also show that the Portuguese individuals present greater levels of financial literacy perception compared to their actual knowledge of financial literacy. The originality of this study shows that the utilized instrument was adequate to measure the financial literacy perception of the Portuguese individuals with training in the areas of Economics, Management, Finance, and Accounting. The difference between the perception and the actual knowledge of financial literacy among people trained in these areas should encourage a revision of the curriculums of these degrees, to shorten that gap.