Over the last years financial innovation, technological progress, market integration coupled with demographic, economic and political changes have led to increasingly complex financial products and to the growing transfer of financial risks to consumers, strengthening the need for financial education that provide people not only with complete, correct and accurate information but also with learning tools and personal finance skills. Authorities have stressed, on several occasions, the need for investors to acquire appropriate and up-to-date financial education. Analysis of factors leading to the financial crisis has highlighted the importance of financial literacy for financial market efficiency and as an essential component of any consumer protection system.
The seminar illustrated the purpose of and rationale for financial education; international best practices and principles for financial education, the most significant international experiences and initiatives launched by the Bank of Italy. Special attention was devoted to the programmes addressed to schools and to the evaluation of programme effectiveness.
