The President's Advisory Council on Financial Capability emphasizes the need for research in the field of financial education and behavioral economics. Image from the U.S. Department of the Treasury .

There is an abundance of scholarly literature on the impact of financial education on financial literacy and financial capability of the youth. Less is known about the impact of financial education on changes in financial behaviors and attitudes of youth, especially in low-income communities. Additionally, there is a lack of peer-reviewed research on the impact of a high-school IDA (Individual Development Account) programs. The Center for Economic Education’s partnership with U.S. Bank addresses this gap by offering the opportunity to work with low-income high-school students enrolled in the Youth Educational IDA program.

The Center for Economic Education is conducting an IRB-approved longitudinal study of the impact of an educational IDA on college enrollment of high school students. The research is ongoing and has been presented in national conferences:

 

Educational IDAs:

Don’t Do As I Do, Do As I Say? Evidence on the Inter-Generational Transmission of Financial Attitudes.

• Presenters: Andrew Gill and Radha Bhattacharya (Department of Economics and Center for Economic Education California State University at Fullerton)
  Conference: Council for Economic Education National Conference, October 10, 2014, Dallas Renaissance Hotel Research Session II
  Title: Evidence of Achievement in Personal Finance
  Chair: William Bosshardt, Florida Atlantic University

The Interaction of Financial Attitudes and Financial Literacy:

• Presenters: Radha Bhattacharya, Director, Center for Economic Education, California State University at Fullerton and Andrew Gill, Professor of Economics, California State University at Fullerton

  Conference: 54th Annual Financial Literacy and Economic Education Conference,
  October 7–10, 2015, The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort and Golf Club Hotel, St. Petersburg, FL

• Title: Evidence for Low-Income Hispanic Families