The effects of financial literacy training: Evidence from a field experiment in German high schools

We report the results of a field experiment evaluating the impact of financial literacy training on teenagers between 14 and 16 years in German high schools. After the training, treated teenagers exhibit a significant increase in both interest in financial matters and self-assessed knowledge relative to the control group. We also find a strong decrease in the prevalence of impulse purchases after the training, suggesting that teenagers become more sovereign consumers. Our data reveals strong gender differences in financial matters already before adulthood: Girls show less interest in and self-assessed knowledge about financial matters, and are less likely to save.