Authors: Donghoon Lee, Daniel Mangrum, Wilbert van der Klaauw, and Crystal Wang
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Staff Reports
Financial Education and Household Financial Decisions During the Pandemic
Number 1131
October 2024 Revised March 2025
October 2024 Revised March 2025
JEL classification: D14, G51, G53
We examine the impact of financial education on credit decisions during COVID-19. The pandemic presented economic challenges, but policy responses provided opportunities for savvy borrowers. Using variation in state-mandated financial education during high school, we find that mandated borrowers reduced revolving credit card balances by larger amounts after stimulus checks were distributed and were more likely to buy homes and refinance mortgages during times of low interest rates. Paused student loan borrowers bound by mandates originated more auto loans and mortgages while reducing growth in credit card balances. Our findings underscore the importance of financial education for economic resilience.
Author Disclosure Statement(s)
Donghoon Lee
I declare that I have no relevant or material financial interests that relate to the research described in this paper. Prior to circulation, this paper was reviewed in accordance with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York review policy, available at https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/staff_reports/index.html.
Daniel Mangrum
The author declares that (s)he has no relevant or material financial interests that relate to the research described in this paper. Prior to circulation, this paper was reviewed in accordance with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York review policy, available at https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/staff_reports/index.html.
Wilbert van der Klaauw
The author declares that (s)he has no relevant or material financial interests that relate to the research described in this paper. Prior to circulation, this paper was reviewed in accordance with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York review policy, available at https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/staff_reports/index.html.
Crystal Wang
The author declares that they have no relevant or material financial interests that relate to the research described in this paper. Prior to circulation, this paper was reviewed in accordance with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York review policy, available at https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/staff_reports/index.html.
I declare that I have no relevant or material financial interests that relate to the research described in this paper. Prior to circulation, this paper was reviewed in accordance with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York review policy, available at https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/staff_reports/index.html.
Daniel Mangrum
The author declares that (s)he has no relevant or material financial interests that relate to the research described in this paper. Prior to circulation, this paper was reviewed in accordance with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York review policy, available at https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/staff_reports/index.html.
Wilbert van der Klaauw
The author declares that (s)he has no relevant or material financial interests that relate to the research described in this paper. Prior to circulation, this paper was reviewed in accordance with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York review policy, available at https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/staff_reports/index.html.
Crystal Wang
The author declares that they have no relevant or material financial interests that relate to the research described in this paper. Prior to circulation, this paper was reviewed in accordance with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York review policy, available at https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/staff_reports/index.html.
Suggested Citation:
Lee, Donghoon Daniel Mangrum, Wilbert van der Klaauw, and Crystal Wang. 2024. “Financial Education and Household Financial Decisions During the Pandemic.” Federal Reserve Bank of New York Staff Reports, no. 1131, October. https://doi.org/10.59576/sr.1131
Lee, Donghoon Daniel Mangrum, Wilbert van der Klaauw, and Crystal Wang. 2024. “Financial Education and Household Financial Decisions During the Pandemic.” Federal Reserve Bank of New York Staff Reports, no. 1131, October. https://doi.org/10.59576/sr.1131
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