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on Financial Literacy and Education |
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Issue of 2025–08–25
four papers chosen by Viviana Di Giovinazzo, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca |
| By: | Mouzoun Zakarya (Kénitra - Ecole nationale de commerce et gestion Ibn Tofail); Samiha Bakkali (Kénitra - Ecole nationale de commerce et gestion Ibn Tofail); Ammi Anouar (Kénitra - Ecole nationale de commerce et gestion Ibn Tofail) |
| Abstract: | This study investigates the impact of financial literacy on promoting financial inclusion in Morocco, specifically examining how individuals' comprehension and management of personal finances influence their access to, and utilization of, formal financial services. Financial literacy is conceptualized as an essential component of human capital that enables individuals to make informed financial decisions. It encompasses multiple interrelated dimensions, including fundamental financial knowledge, financial culture, as well as competencies related to managing and effectively utilizing financial information. To achieve this objective, the study applied a mixedmethod research approach, involving quantitative surveys through structured questionnaires and qualitative semistructured interviews, conducted with a representative sample of Moroccan citizens aged 15 years and older. The data collection phase was conducted over a twelve-month period, from September 2022 to September 2023. For the analysis, SPSS software was employed for quantitative data processing, whereas NVivo software facilitated the qualitative evaluation of interview data. The findings demonstrate that despite respondents exhibiting a satisfactory level of financial literacy, this alone does not result in widespread financial inclusion. Various significant barriers were identified, particularly prohibitive costs associated with financial services, persistent geographical limitations, and a general lack of trust in financial institutions. Furthermore, insufficient financial literacy was highlighted as the primary obstacle impeding access to financial services, followed by geographic constraints and service-related expenses. To address these challenges, the study advocates systematically integrating financial education into educational curricula at all levels and implementing extensive public awareness initiatives. Additionally, it recommends reducing financial service costs, enhancing the quality of financial services, and fostering technological innovation, which collectively could significantly improve financial inclusion within Morocco. |
| Abstract: | L'objectif de cet article est d'examiner les effets de la littératie financière sur le renforcement de l'inclusion financière au Maroc. Plus précisément, l'étude analyse dans quelle mesure la compréhension et la gestion adéquate des finances personnelles influencent l'accès et l'utilisation effective des services financiers formels. La littératie financière y est appréhendée comme une composante centrale du capital humain, permettant aux individus de prendre des décisions financières avisées. À cet égard, plusieurs dimensions essentielles sont abordées, telles que les connaissances financières de base, la culture financière ainsi que les compétences liées à la gestion et au traitement de l'information financière. Afin de répondre à cet objectif, une approche méthodologique mixte combinant enquêtes par questionnaires et entretiens semi-structurés a été mobilisée auprès d'un échantillon représentatif de citoyens marocains âgés de 15 ans et plus. L'étude s'est déroulée sur une période de douze mois, allant de septembre 2022 à septembre 2023. Les données recueillies ont été traitées au moyen du logiciel SPSS pour l'analyse quantitative et du logiciel NVivo pour l'analyse qualitative. Les résultats indiquent qu'un niveau relativement élevé de littératie financière ne conduit pas nécessairement à une inclusion financière généralisée, essentiellement en raison des coûts élevés des services financiers, des barrières géographiques persistantes et d'une confiance limitée dans les institutions financières. En outre, le manque de littératie financière ressort comme principal obstacle à l'accès aux services financiers, suivi par les barrières géographiques et les coûts associés aux services. L'étude propose d'intégrer systématiquement l'éducation financière dans les programmes scolaires et les campagnes de sensibilisation publiques, et recommande une réduction des coûts des services financiers, l'amélioration de leur qualité ainsi que l'encouragement de l'innovation technologique pour renforcer significativement l'inclusion financière au Maroc. |
| Keywords: | Littératie financière Inclusion financière Services financiers Technologies financières Maroc Classification JEL : G53 Type de l'article : Recherche empirique Financial literacy financial inclusion financial services financial technologies Morocco JEL Classification: G53 Paper type: Empirical research, Littératie financière, Inclusion financière, Services financiers, Technologies financières, Maroc Classification JEL : G53 Type de l'article : Recherche empirique Financial literacy, financial inclusion, financial services, financial technologies, Morocco JEL Classification: G53 Paper type: Empirical research |
| Date: | 2025–04–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05154529 |
| By: | Barone, Guglielmo (University of Bologna); Loviglio, Annalisa (University of Bologna); Tommasi, Denni (University of Bologna) |
| Abstract: | Digital skills are increasingly essential for full participation in modern life. Yet many low-income families face a dual digital divide: limited access to technology and limited ability to use it effectively. These gaps can undermine adults' ability to support their children's education, restrict access to public services, and reduce their own employability. Despite growing policy attention, rigorous evidence on how to close these gaps—especially among disadvantaged adults in high-income countries—remains scarce. We evaluate the impact of a comprehensive digital inclusion program in Turin, Italy, targeting 859 low-income families with school-aged children. Participants were randomly assigned to a control group or one of two treatment arms, each combining a free tablet with internet access and digital literacy training of different durations. One year later, treated participants reported large improvements in daily technology use and digital skills, as measured by the "Digital Skills Indicator 2.0" (DSI) developed by Eurostat. Parents also became more confident in guiding their children's online activities, more engaged in digital parenting, and more likely to access public services digitally. We find no effects on employment or job search behavior, but treated participants expressed greater optimism about future training prospects. The effects are statistically similar across the two training intensities, suggesting that (i) once basic barriers are removed, digital engagement can become self-sustaining, and/or (ii) that the returns to digital training are strongly diminishing. Mediation analysis confirms that digital skills — not just access — are key drivers of broader behavioral and economic outcomes. Sequential effects are particularly strong in the domains of social inclusion and parenting. The findings underscore the importance of addressing both financial and learning constraints and suggest that bundled interventions can foster inclusive digital participation. |
| Keywords: | digital divide, digital literacy, low-income families, labor market outcomes, digital parenting |
| JEL: | I24 J24 O33 C93 |
| Date: | 2025–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18032 |
| By: | Surabhi Garg (Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research); Srijit Mishra (University of Hyderabad) |
| Abstract: | Mother's effective literacy status has instrumental importance in affecting child's health outcomes. This is not to dismiss the relevance of a father's literacy, but to posit a primitive that the father's literacy is by-and-large channelled through the mother. Having said that, the current analysis is an attempt to capture the impact of mother's effective literacy status (mother has the advantage of dual literacy - her own and that of the child's father, mother is literate but the child's father is illiterate, mother is proximate illiterate by being in proximity to the child's father who is literate, mother is secluded illiterate as neither she nor the child's father are literate) on child health outcomes. To begin with, we use Triplots to depict the percentage of children under 5 years of age with severity of anaemia, stunting, wasting and underweight for different effective literacy status of mother in India. Further, multinomial logit model is used to examine the effect of mother's effective literacy status on children below 5 years of age for rural and urban India. The results show that, compared to mother's secluded illiteracy, mother being proximate illiterate, literate alone or dual literate affect child health significantly for all the four health indicators in rural areas and for stunting and underweight in urban areas. Further, the effect of mother's dual literacy status is more pronounced than when literate alone, which is higher than when she is proximate illiterate. We further test for the differential effect of effective literacy status of mother with respect to the gender of the child and the level of education of the literate parent. It is also observed that that higher level of education of the literate parent is associated with lower log-odds of the child being unhealthy vis-…-vis healthy in both rural and urban areas. |
| Keywords: | Proximate illiteracy, Secluded illiteracy, Child health outcomes, Anaemia, Stunting, Wasting, Underweight, India |
| JEL: | C25 C55 I14 I21 |
| Date: | 2025–04 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ind:igiwpp:2025-009 |
| By: | Akhayad Loubna (ESSDL, FSJES, UMPO - Laboratoire ESSDL, faculté des sciences juridiques economique et sociale , UMP oujda) |
| Abstract: | Résumé: Ce travail de recherche examine le rôle significatif des paradigmes financiers éthiques dans la promotion de l'inclusion économique et la lutte contre la pauvreté au Maroc, où 4, 8 % de la population continue de vivre en dessous du seuil de pauvreté. Trois modèles principaux sont passés au crible : la finance islamique (ancrée dans la charia, avec des produits tels que murabaha), la microfinance éthique (illustrée par des institutions comme Al Amana) et l'investissement socialement responsable (ISR) (qui intègre des critères ESG). Ces méthodologies visent à proposer des alternatives aux systèmes bancaires classiques, qui restent souvent inaccessibles aux populations marginalisées, tout en respectant les principes de transparence, d'équité et de durabilité. Néanmoins, les progrès de la finance éthique se heurtent à de nombreux obstacles, notamment le manque de sensibilisation concernant les instruments financiers éthiques, un cadre règlementaire incomplet (notamment en ce qui concerne la microfinance et l'ISR) et la concurrence des banques traditionnelles, perçues comme plus avantageuses en termes de rentabilité. Par exemple, Al Amana, bien qu'elle ait permis à 600 000 bénéficiaires d'améliorer leurs conditions de vie et qu'elle ait créé plus de 100 000 emplois, doit faire face au risque de surendettement de sa clientèle. Pour relever ces défis, l'article propose des stratégies telles que l'innovation technologique (y compris la fintech et la blockchain), le renforcement de la littératie financière et le raffinement des réglementations pour définir les pratiques éthiques. En conclusion, l'essor de la finance éthique au Maroc dépendra de sa capacité à harmoniser performance économique et impact social, renforcée par le soutien des institutions publiques, des acteurs financiers et de la société civile. Un tel paradigme pourrait reconfigurer durablement le paysage économique marocain, le rendre plus inclusif et plus adapté aux considérations sociales et environnementales. |
| Keywords: | inclusion financière développement durable fintech blockhain investissement socialement responsable finance Microfinance, inclusion financière, développement durable, fintech, blockhain, investissement socialement responsable, finance, Microfinance |
| Date: | 2025–07–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05170299 |