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Sanderson Abel
The country and its citizens should note that efforts aimed at improving financial literacy are very noble and need to be pursued with vigour given the associated cost of a financially illiterate citizenry.

The success of various programmes initiated by government and the financial institutions cannot be successful if the intended beneficiaries are not financially literate.

These programmes should be based in purely economic terms where for example the borrower should understand the importance of repaying loans and advances at a predetermined interest rate and pre agreed conditions.

In this way, consumers benefit from improved financial literacy directly by being in a position to make better informed decisions; and indirectly by adding to competitive pressures faced by product and service providers.

What is financial illiteracy?

Financial illiteracy describes the widespread inability of individuals to understand key financial concepts and manage their personal finances wisely. Financial illiteracy is costly to both individuals and society.

The cost of financial illiteracy can be viewed from various angles: forgone savings and investment opportunities, lives shattered by financial loss or bankruptcy, higher prices than necessary paid for goods and services, dreams and aspirations that go unfulfilled, and marital discord over issues about money.

The collective loss resulting from common financial errors can be tremendous and quite devastating.

What are the costs of

financial illiteracy?

Financial illiteracy prohibits individuals from becoming productive members of the economy and society much like the inability to read or write disadvantages generations.

Financial illiterate persons are not able to assess financial risks and opportunities. This makes it difficult for them to make informed choices and take effective actions to improve one’s financial well-being which is a must in a today’s society.

Financial illiteracy handicaps anyone seeking to become financially secure. The impact for example include slow savings rates, potential for stock market panics, and increased potential for losses due to frauds and trickery.

Financially illiterate people are prone to making costly financial errors such as high debt loads, substantial income unaccounted for, inadequate insurance, lack of investment diversification, insufficient use of tax-favoured investments, inadequate of emergency funds, lack of clearly defined personal and financial goals.

Financial illiteracy cuts across all socio-economic boundaries from low-income to high-income families, and even the well-educated, high-income adults may not know how to budget properly or manage their money well.

Financial illiteracy makes one unable to serve as their own advocates. In these times of the proliferation of a number of financial products and services that are unsuitable, unnecessarily costly or abusive, one needs to make sound decisions.

Financial illiteracy is also a cost to most SMEs and informal sector players. Owner mangers who do not understand finance are harming their own career prospects and storing up future disasters for their businesses. These managers are less able to discuss financial performance and make sound investments.

Financial illiteracy forces one to be afraid of asking important questions that could help them to avoid the wrong decisions. This then affects the operation of their firms and negatively affects the potential for profits. Financial literacy is more important in a country like Zimbabwe currently dominated by SMEs which have no capacity to engage skilled manpower to handle finances for them.

What needs to be done?

It is important that financial literacy programmes be introduced at almost all levels. The curricula for financial education should include components to help students develop an understanding of the appropriate skills relating to the roles of money, credit, budgets, financial planning and other relevant personal finance topics in order to permit them to understand and appropriately manage their finances.

Financial literacy acquisition must be a lifelong pursuit that enables consumers of all ages and economic positions to stay attuned to changes in their financial needs and circumstances, and to take advantage of products and services that best meet their goals.

Financial education needs to reach adults in the workplace as well as other learning venues, such as libraries and museums.

Specific population subgroups, such as ethnic and gender minorities, require custom-tailored approaches.

Such measures can be co-funded by the private sector, which will in turn benefit from more informed clients. Financial institutions should take the lead as they can amass huge potential as the number of financial literate people in the country increases.

The increasing complexity of our financial system makes it clear that strengthening the financial knowledge and skills of the people is critical for the future success and financial stability of our country.

Just like reading and writing, financial education impacts the well-being of every citizen, as well as the economic and social fabric of our communities.

If financial literacy is not strengthened, the future of the financial system becomes uncertain with the success rate and efficacy of new financial product development being compromised.

Financial illiteracy limits the scope of financial sector development in the country as most new products end up without takers hence increasing their failure rate and profitability.

• Sanderson Abel is an Economist. He writes in his capacity as Senior Economist for the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe. For your comments regarding this article, he can be contacted on [email protected] or on 04-744686, 0772463008.