Financial Education Programs in Italy: A Critical Review and Analysis of Current Programs, Major Initiatives, and Case Studies on Children’s Financial Knowledge, Gender Differences and Online Decision-Making Among Experts

This thesis provides an examination of the state of financial literacy in Italy, positioning it within a global context. The primary objective is to exhaustively review the financial education initiatives currently implemented across Italy by the government, private sector, and non-profit organizations, identifying their strengths and weaknesses for each initiative. The research presents several case studies to assess the impact of financial education projects. One case study focuses on a school-based project aimed at elementary school children, analyzing its influence on their financial knowledge and behaviors towards money. Another experimental study explores how contemporary online environments affect individuals with advanced financial expertise. Additionally, the thesis investigates an initiative examining gender differences in learning financial basics, highlighting distinct learning patterns and behavioral impacts between boys and girls. The findings from the first case study reveal that the school-based project positively influenced participants by increasing their interest in economics, improving financial literacy, and reinforcing attitudes towards using money for altruistic purposes. While these effects are modest, they represent potential long-term benefits. The second case study emphasizes the importance of systematically implementing controlled experiments to evaluate the effectiveness of financial education interventions, noting the need for a deeper understanding of human behavior in designing such programs. The third case study suggests that financial literacy programs may need to be gender-differentiated or restructured to be effective for both genders, proposing further research on gender differences in financial education. The thesis concludes emphasizing the importance of targeted, behaviorally informed, and continuously evaluated financial education programs. The recommendations aim to encourage future efforts in designing and implementing effective financial education programs, ultimately contributing to a more financially literate and economically stable society.