Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2012

Publication Title

American Economic Review

Department

Department of Economics

Abstract

There is evidence of a relation between numeracy and wealth held outside of pensions and Social Security. With pensions and Social Security accounting for half of wealth at retirement, and evidence that those with pensions save more in other forms, one would expect to find knowledge of pensions and Social Security influencing retirement saving. Yet we find no evidence that knowledge of pensions and Social Security is related to nonpension, non-Social Security wealth, to numeracy, or that it plays an intermediate role in the numeracy-wealth relation. Our findings raise questions about policies that would enhance numeracy to increase retirement saving.

DOI

10.1257/aer.102.3.309

Original Citation

Gustman, Alan L., Thomas L. Steinmeier, and Nahid Tabatabai. 2012. "Financial Knowledge and Financial Literacy at the Household Level." American Economic Review, 102 (3): 309-13.DOI: 10.1257/aer.102.3.309

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