Rethinking Financial Capability. Lessons from economic psychology and behavioural finance

Our society has moved from a 'thrift ethic', where people limited their consumption of goods to what they could afford at the time, to a 'consumption ethic'. But evidence shows that the public's ability to manage personal finances has not kept pace. This report argues that to encourage greater financial 'capability' government policy should prioritise efforts to improve people's ability to plan ahead, as this has most serious repercussions for individuals, business, the economy and the financial services industry.

This report also sets out a case for seeing financial capability as more of a central social welfare issue. It suggests moving responsibility for the National Strategy from the FSA to the government, through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). This research is sponsored by Norwich Union.