Conceptualisation and Measurement of Financial Competence : A Holistic Approach and Implications for Financial Education

Abstract

This Open access book offers a pivotal contribution to the field of financial literacy research as it advances the understanding of financial literacy as a holistic competence encompassing cognition, motivation, emotion, attitude, behaviour and their interrelationships. It provides a comprehensive overview and evaluation of concepts, constructs and frameworks related to financial literacy and instruments used to measure financial competence. The work also discusses identification, synthesis and systematisation of a wide range of cognitive and non-cognitive influences on financial behaviour. The book not only introduces a unique, holistic model of financial competence, but also presents a draft of an innovative technology-based test instrument designed to simulate and trace complex financial decision-making processes and elucidate challenges confronted in complex problem-solving situations. The aim of this book is to shift from an isolated focus on individual cognitive facets (mainly knowledge) to a holistic modeling of competence in order to systematise the landscape of research on financial literacy and financial competence. The work is instrumental for researchers, educators and policymakers in advancing their understanding and methodologies and in paving the way for effective financial education interventions and promoting financially competent behaviour.