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Understanding the Determinants of Saving in Ghana: Does Financial Literacy Matter?
Author(s) -
Baidoo Samuel Tawiah,
Boateng Elliot,
Amponsah Mary
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of international development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.533
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1099-1328
pISSN - 0954-1748
DOI - 10.1002/jid.3377
Subject(s) - financial literacy , probit model , investment (military) , estimation , literacy , economics , ordered probit , business , probit , public economics , key (lock) , finance , economic growth , econometrics , political science , computer science , politics , management , law , computer security
Domestic savings remain low in Ghana despite several attempts to improve this situation. Whereas existing studies on private savings have identified several determinants, the role of financial literacy in saving decisions has not been explored. In this paper, we build on existing studies and provide evidence supporting our hypothesis that financial literacy is key to promoting domestic saving. The study relies mainly on primary data, and the binary probit regression model is employed as the estimation technique. Our results show that improving financial literacy among Ghanaians should be incorporated into the broad policy package aimed at increasing domestic saving which is a prerequisite for investment and subsequently sustainable economic growth. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.