Active Learning Improves Financial Education

Kaiser, Tim und Menkhoff, Lukas (20. Dezember 2018): Active Learning Improves Financial Education. Experimental Evidence. Collaborative Research Center Transregio 190, Discussion Paper No. 131

Abstract

We conduct a randomized field experiment to study the effects of two financial education interventions offered to small-scale retailers in Uganda. The treatments contrast "active learning" with "traditional lecturing" within standardized lesson-plans. We find that active learning has a positive and economically meaningful impact on savings and investment outcomes, in contrast to insignificant impacts of lecturing. These results are not conditional on prior education or financial literacy. Tentative evidence suggests that only active learning stimulates several cognitive and non-cognitive mechanisms; moreover, a social mechanism may be at play as treated individuals join social groups discussing financial matters.

• Dokumententyp: Paper
• Fakultät: Volkswirtschaft > Collaborative Research Center Transregio "Rationality and Competition"
• Themengebiete: 300 Sozialwissenschaften > 330 Wirtschaft
• JEL Classification: I21, A20, D14, O16
• Sprache: Englisch