Impact of financial literacy on household stock profit level in China

Abstract

The popularization of financial literacy has become a global trend, with governments across the world expressing commitment to continuously enhancing the financial literacy of their citizens to improve the country’s overall financial well-being. However, there is a lack of research evaluating the actual effects of financial literacy on Chinese households. This study first investigated the micro impact of financial literacy on the household stock profit level using data from the 2019 China Household Finance Survey. As most existing studies use factor analysis to measure financial literacy from a single dimension of financial knowledge, our study additionally used the entropy method to construct a composite evaluation system of financial literacy from four dimensions: financial skills, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. The ordinary least squares model was utilized as the primary regression model to estimate the correlation, and the average financial literacy of other households in the same community was selected as an instrumental variable. Further instrumental variable regression analysis was conducted using the two-stage least squares method. Three robustness tests were performed to ensure the reliability of the research findings. The results demonstrate that financial literacy significantly enhances household stock profit levels. The mediation effect analysis indicates that financial literacy affects stock profit levels through financial information attention. Moreover, financial literacy has a more substantial promoting effect on stock profit levels for households with members working for state-owned enterprises and those living in first-tier cities. This study confirms the value of financial literacy; identifies important channels for residents to increase their property income; and provides important guidance for the government, educational organizations, and financial institutions. This also injects more vigor into market participation to improve the persistently sluggish Chinese stock market.