Improving financial literacy of the poor and vulnerable in Indonesia: An empirical analysis

Abstract

We describe and report the results of an 18-month long training of trainers program in financial literacy and soft skills designed to improve employability of poor and vulnerable Indonesian youth. The program was part of an Inclusive Workforce Development project sponsored by USAID/Indonesia. Twenty-five teachers received training in December 2017 and subsequently conducted 30 trainings for 601 students in West Java from January through May 2018. The training consisted of 18 sessions covering basics of financial literacy and employment–related soft skills. Both participating trainers and students showed statistically significant increases in financial literacy knowledge, and student perceptions about their acquisition of soft skills improved as well. Increases in student financial literacy knowledge were found to relate to prior knowledge, job experience, the type of school they attend, the perceived acquisition of soft skills, and the intention to incorporate the training into their daily lives. Given that the economic education literature links financial literacy to improved worker productivity, decreased absenteeism, and entrepreneurial success, these findings are encouraging for both the students involved and for their employers in Indonesia.