Financial activity and financial awareness of high-school students – case study of the Lublin region

In: Horyzonty polityki: HP = Horizons of politics, Band 13, Heft 45, S. 159-182

Abstract

Research objective: The article attempts a diagnosis of the financial literacy and activity of consumers in aspects related to financial management, sources of financial knowledge, knowledge of the market offer of banks, and having their own account in the group of young consumers from the Lublin region.
The research problem and methods: The group of young consumers constitutes one of the market's largest and most developing consumer groups and is classified as a particularly vulnerable group. Our study was conducted on a random sample of 261 students aged 17–18 attending the second grade of grammar and technical secondary schools in selected poviats (counties) of the Lublin region, based on the criterion of population wealth.
The process of argumentation: Based on the relevant literature and the quantitative survey. The collected data were analyzed using basic analysis methods (such as independence tests and correspondence analysis).
Research results: The study showed that more than 70% of young people from the Lublin region have financial resources at their disposal. However, only 16.7% of them attempts to manage their own finances. More than half of them have a bank account, but the knowledge of the market offer targeted by banks at this target group is low. Statistical analyses showed an impact of the cultural capital represented by the mother's education and place of residence on the financial activity of the youth.
Conclusions, innovations, and recommendations: Young people are often unaware of the market offer addressed to them and rarely attempt to consciously manage their financial resources. Research shows that the young generation has limited opportunities to expand their financial knowledge and, consequently, implement reasonable financial practices. Simultaneously, young consumers are the most promising target group, especially in the context of an ageing society and the low loyalty of individual buyers.