Consumer Knowledge and Financial Decisions Lifespan Perspectives [Hardcover]

There has been an increasing recognition that financial knowledge (i.e., literacy) is lacking across the population. Moreover, there is recognition that this lack of knowledge poses real problems as credit, mortgages, health insurance, retirement benefits, and savings and investment decisions become increasingly complex. Financial Decisions Across the Lifespan brings together the work of scholars from various disciplines (family and consumer sciences, economics, law, finance, sociology, and public policy) to provide a broad range of perspectives on financial knowledge, financial decisions, and policies. For consistency across the volume each chapter follows a similar format: (1) what individuals know or need to know (2) how what they know or need to know affects financial decisions and outcomes (3) ways in which policies or programs or financial innovations can enhance their knowledge, or decisions, or outcomes. Contributors will provide both new and existing research to create a valuable picture of the state of financial literacy and how it can be improved.

I.?Understanding and Furthering Financial Knowledge.-Coming to Terms with Financial Literacy.-Cultivating Financial Mindfulness: A Dual-Process Theory.-Cognitive Development and Childrens Understanding of Personal Finance.-Financial Education for College Students.-The Current State of Financial Education in the U.S: How is Higher Education Helping?-An Overview of Contemporary Financial Education Initiatives Aimed at Minority Populations.-II. Credit, Home Purchase, and Bankruptcy.-Credit Cards as a Market Instrument: Consumer Understanding and Use.-Financial Education, Financial Knowledge, and Risky Credit BehaviolI