Financial literacy among university students in ghana
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Date
2023
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KNUST
Abstract
Financial literacy plays a vital role in the lives of the individual and the nation as it impacts on savings, investments, borrowings and the management of money. Financial literacy contributes to better decision making on financial matters, help in the financial stability of household, individuals and the economy. The main objective of this study was to investigate the level of financial literacy among university students in Ghana. The was conducted using undergraduate students in KNUST, Kumasi. To achieve the study objectives, the study employed descriptive, quantitative, and questionnaires to gather data from a sample of 398 respondents. The study employed various statistical tools including SEM analysis, correlation and ANOVA for the data analysis. Regression analysis was employed to assess the impact of financial literacy on students’ financial behaviour. Results of the study revealed that the financial attitudes that are deemed important to the university students include control of monthly expenses, establishment of financial target for the future, saving money on a monthly basis and following a monthly expense plan. It was also revealed that the students go more than one month without balancing their personal expenses, and hardly save on a monthly basis. In addition, it was revealed that students with business background are more financially knowledgeable than the other students. Also, a significant positive impact was found between financial literacy and financial behaviour. Based on this, the study recommends to the various educational stakeholders to include some course in the curricula of non-business students to upgrade their level of financial literacy for their financial wellbeing. Students in the respective fields of non-business are also recommended to take short course on financial management to upgrade their financial literacy skills. The study further recommends to the stakeholders of the various universities to use their various platforms such as matriculations and orientations to educate students on the need for them to save and invest much of their income to meet unforeseen circumstances and prepare for the future.
Description
A thesis submitted to the department of accounting and finance, school of business, kwame nkrumah university of science and technology, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of master of business administration (finance)