The cryptocurrency Bitcoin has been prominently featured in the news recently. Its ascension in value has been nothing short of extraordinary. This article briefly explains what Bitcoin is and how it works. The more challenging question is what Bitcoin--this cryptographic breakthrough--really is: currency, like the U.S. dollar, an asset, more like…

This study examined associations between positive financial behaviors and positive health behaviors. Participants (n 8,128) completed an online survey about their frequency of performance of recommended practices.A multiple regression analysis was used to predict participants' health behavior score based on their emergency fund, saving, and…

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether a professional designation affects consumer choice behavior within the area of investment decision making. Forty-six participants were endowed with real money and received hypothetical investment advice from a certified financial planner (CFP) Professional and a stockbroker. Among low-income…

In this dissertation, I aim to clarify the factors affecting a consumers' choice between the Internet and a financial planner for making saving and investment decisions, based on household production theory. Moreover, I explore the likelihood of an individual being an Internet user (vs. a non-user), a financial planner user (vs. a non-user),…

This is a study on various aspects of market microstructure, behavioral finance and asset management. In the first chapter we put the PIN variable (Probability of Information-based trading) to test. The PIN variable has been used extensively in the microstructure literature despite the fact that its construction is based on rather strong…

Using the literature of psychology, consumer behavior, and behavioral finance, a series of hypotheses is presented that account for consumer choices of managed over index mutual funds. Results indicate a need for consumer education to increase awareness of the benefits of index investing. (SK)

This booklet on savings and investment, 1 in a series of 12, covers all the basic aspects of personal- and family-money management. Suitable for use by high school and college students as well as adults, this handbook shows how to develop a savings and investment program based on present and future needs and goals. Section 1 overviews savings and…

This module is one of a set prepared in conjunction with the Title I "Project to Train Volunteer Leaders to Conduct Consumer Education Courses." It is designed to be a basic text for use in making a one-hour presentation on personal money management. Topics include reasons for having a budget and guidelines for successful budgeting, elements of a…

This consumer's (or student's) guide for a home-study money management curriculum is divided into five units of study: (1) financial planning; (2) coping with credit; (3) protection through life insurance; (4) financial aspects of housing; and (5) making your money grow. Each unit contains fact sheets, charts, and quizzes. The fact sheets in unit…

The purpose of this high school consumer education course is to make the student sware of his place in the economic system. This is achieved through the attainment of certain goals: 1) an understanding of the American economic system; 2) the function of money and banking; 3) a consideration of various types of insurance; 4) an identification of…

A major assignment for twelfth grade social science students at a California high school deals with the basic components of survival on one's own. Students must simulate moving out of their parents' home, finding a job, making major household and transportation purchases, buying on credit, investing money, buying insurance, and getting involved in…

This educational guide is designed to aid both the experienced and inexperienced teacher of personal and family finance. It includes the following five units of study: (1) financial planning; (2) coping with credit; (3) protection through life insurance; (4) financial aspects of housing; and (5) making your money grow. Each unit contains teaching…

This guide is intended to assist school personnel by clarifying issues, provide directions in basic information, and stimulate practical considerations for the learner in the area of consumer education. Its objectives are to (1) assist school administrators in the implementation of consumer education, and (2) assist secondary teachers in planning…

This document reports some of the findings of a national assessment of seventeen-year-olds on consumer knowledge, skills, and attitudes. An introduction describes the development of the survey, the probability sample, the administration of the assessment, and the format for reporting the results. Chapter 1 of five chapters summarizes the responses…

This resource guide for teaching personal and family finances was developed to serve a wide spectrum of professional educators, including teachers, administrators, and project directors. Although it was designed for those involved in community outreach programs (see CE 023 729), the content can be useful for adults and students in a variety of…