Managing Personal Finance Literacy in the United States: A Case Study

Abstract

This study investigates the perspectives and impact that personal finance education had on participants in Western Pennsylvania. The researchers begin with a literature review of personal finance courses in the United States (U.S.). The U.S. housing market collapse is also discussed as a key component of the financial crisis that is often overlooked and can be partly attributed to the lack of financial literacy. The findings of this study indicate that participants want personal finance courses offered in K-12 schools and at the collegiate level. They also want personal finance elements to be co-curricular in the K-12 setting. A recommendation based on responses from participants is that co-curricular teaching of personal finance should be tied in with math courses. The participants of this study either have benefited from personal finance lessons themselves or are a strong advocate for the teaching of personal finance in the future. The financial future does also bring worry to the different generations. Generation X is more worried about the financial choices of the upcoming generations, while Millennials and Generation Z are concerned about the future of the economy and how this will affect them.