FINANCIAL LITERACY AMONG WOMEN EDUCATORS IN HIGHER EDUCATION: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND BEHAVIOUR

Financial literacy – encompassing financial knowledge, attitude, and behaviour – is a critical determinant of individual economic well-being. Despite growing scholarly attention, women, particularly in the academic profession, remain understudied in the context of financial literacy. This study investigates the financial literacy levels of women educators employed in higher education institutions across West Bengal, India, and examines the influence of socio-demographic variables on these levels. Data were collected from 450 women educators spanning five teaching streams (Commerce and Management, Science, Arts, Engineering, and Law) through a structured questionnaire adapted from the OECD/INFE financial literacy framework. Financial literacy scores were computed by aggregating standardised scores for financial knowledge, financial attitude, and financial behaviour. Multinomial logistic regression was employed to identify significant predictors of financial literacy levels. Findings show that a high percentage of the respondents (72%) showed high financial literacy. Marital status, income level, years of professional experience, teaching stream, and financial decision-making autonomy were found to be statistically significant predictors. Educators in the Commerce and Science streams showed a comparatively higher financial literacy, while those in the fields of Engineering and Law scored lower. The study highlights the need for stream-specific and demographic-specific financial education interventions that will help address these existing disparities among women educators in higher education.