Gender Differences in Financial Knowledge Overconfidence among Older Adults

TitleGender Differences in Financial Knowledge Overconfidence among Older Adults
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2022
AuthorsKim, KTae, Lee, S, Kim, H
JournalInternational Journal of Consumer Studies
Volume46
Issue4
Pagination1223-1240
ISBN Number1470-6423
KeywordsCognitive Ability, financial knowledge, Gender difference, overconfidence
Abstract

This study explores gender differences in financial knowledge overconfidence among older adults using the 2016 Health and Retirement Study (HRS). We find that older females have relatively lower objective financial knowledge than do older males, while they evaluate themselves to be as financially knowledgeable as older males. Further, several measures of overconfidence in financial knowledge are higher in older females than older males. A number of robustness checks, including a propensity score matching (PSM) method, use of a polygenic risk scores (PGS), and a test of reproduction using the Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) corroborate these gender differences. Results from decomposition analyses of overconfidence indices show that relatively lower crystallized intelligence of older females is one of the main reasons that widens the gender gap among older adults. Lower likelihoods of attaining a college education degree and being in a relationship are additional contributing factors that explain the gender gap. This study provides insights into understanding the gender gap in financial knowledge and its implications for government education or intervention programs to support older adults? wellbeing in retirement.

DOI10.1111/ijcs.12754
Citation Key11923