How financially literate are women? Some new perspectives on the gender gap

Levels of financial literacy are modest in many developed countries. One group that shows consistently low levels of financial literacy across countries is women. It is critically important that women’s financial knowledge is enhanced and that they become equipped with the tools that are needed to make informed saving decisions. In this paper, Tabea Bucher-Koenen (University of Mannheim), Annamaria Lusardi (George Washington School of Business), Rob Alessie (RUG), and Maarten van Rooij (DNB) document gender differences in financial literacy in the United States, the Netherlands, and Germany, and conclude with a discussion of the implications of their findings for financial education policy and programs.