Research on the Determinants of Financial Literacy and Its Effects on Financial Inclusion: The Cambodian Case and International Comparison Analysis

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The aim of this research is to enhance our understanding of financial literacy in Cambodia and other countries. A comprehensive understanding of financial literacy amongst financial borrowers is crucial for informing relevant policy decisions.During FY2022, we explored the factors influencing financial literacy within Cambodia’s financial sector, with a particular focus on household characteristics and the role of financial institutions. We considered various household attributes such as education, income, age, occupation, their social capital (social networks within communities), and their experiences of financial transactions with formal financial institutions, among others. Utilizing data and information from a household survey in Cambodia, our study confirmed a positive correlation between years of general education and financial literacy, a relationship between lower-income households and lower financial literacy, and an association between higher social capital and increased financial literacy. Furthermore, our analysis revealed that households with more frequent experiences of financial transactions with formal financial institutions possess higher levels of financial literacy.To share our findings with other researchers, we presented our research at an online seminar hosted by the JICA Ogata Research Institute on October 4, 2022, and at the Annual Microfinance Conference in Cambodia on October 28, 2022. The latter presentation was conducted in-person.