Financial Capability

Bringing together evidence from a diverse network of researchers and practitioners in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the March special issue of Global Social Welfare highlights the Center for Social Development’s focus on improving economic well-being for marginalized populations on the continent. The issue, “Financial Capability and Assets for Socioeconomic Development,” was developed through the Financial Capability […]

Tadesse, A., & Huang, J. (2023). Women’s participation in a savings group and depression: A community-based financial capability intervention in Mozambique. Global Social Welfare, 10(1), 49–59. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40609-022-00251-w

Ansong, D., Okumu, M., & Koomson, I. (Eds.). 2023). Financial capability and assets for socioeconomic development [Special issue]. Global Social Welfare, 10(1). https://link.springer.com/journal/40609/volumes-and-issues/10-1

Ansong, D., Koomson, I., Okumu, M., Alhassan, M., Makubuya, T., & Abreh, M. K. (2023). Private supplementary tutoring expenditures and children’s learning outcomes: Gender and locational evidence from Ghana. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 76, Article 101232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stueduc.2022.101232

Deepa, V., Ghoh, C., & Sherraden, M. S. (2023). Financial capability training for social workers in Singapore: Towards more effective practice. International Social Work. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/00208728221150901

Koomson, I., Ansong, D., Okumu, M., & Achulo, S. (2023). Effect of financial literacy on poverty reduction across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Global Social Welfare, 10(1), 93–103. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40609-022-00259-2

Birkenmaier, J., Rothwell, D. R., Jacobson Frey, J., & Spence Coffey, D. (2022). Introduction to the Special Issue on Financial Capability and Asset Building for Family Financial Wellbeing. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 43(4), 647–643. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-022-09871-y

Rothwell, D. R., Jacobson Frey, J., & Birkenmaier, J. (Eds.). (2022). Special issue on financial capability and asset building for family financial wellbeing. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 43(4). https://link.springer.com/journal/10834/volumes-and-issues/43-4

Ansong, D., Okumu, M., & Koomson, I. (2023). Financial capability in Africa: Innovation through evidence, practice, and policy [Special issue introduction]. Global Social Welfare, 10(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40609-022-00256-5

Zeng, Y. (2022). Asset building among U.S. lawful permanent residents: The role of initial legal status. Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/15562948.2022.2128497

Zeng, Y., & Li, Y. (2022). Understanding the use of digital finance among older internet users in urban China: Evidence from an online convenience sample. Educational Gerontology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601277.2022.2126341

Nam, Y., Sherraden, M. S., Lee, E. J., & Huang, J. (2022). Building financial capability among low-income older Asian immigrants: The roles of financial access and locus of control. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 56(4), 1683-1704. https://doi.org/10.1111/joca.12486

Huang, J., Sherraden, M., Sherraden, M. S., & Johnson, L. (2022). Effective finance to increase financial well-being for low-income families: Empirical examination and policy implications. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 56(4), 1638–1657. http://doi.org/10.1111/joca.12484

Fang, S., & Huang, J. (2022). Social workers can help adults with complex needs with financial wellbeing. BMJ, 378, Article 1928. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.o1928

Birkenmaier, J., Huang, J., & Balu, A. (2022). Bank compliance with national transaction account standards: Evidence from a mid‐western metropolitan area. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 56(2), 982–1003. https://doi.org/10.1111/joca.12428

Birkenmaier, J., Maynard, B., & Kim, Y. (2022). Interventions designed to improve financial capability: A systematic review. Research on Social Work Practice, 32(6), 651–677. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315221080127

Sherraden, M. S., Huang, J., & Ansong, D. (2022, February 24). Financial capability. In C. Franklin (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Social Work (Online ed.). https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.1201

Fergus, D., & Shanks, T. R. (2022). The long afterlife of slavery in asset stripping, historical memory, and family burden: Toward a third Reconstruction. Families in Society, 103(1), 7–20. https://doi.org/10.1177/10443894211061283

Finsel, C., Watson Grote, M., Libby, M., Mahon, C., & Sherraden, M. S. (2022). Financial capability and asset building with a racial- and gender-equity lens: Advances from the field. Families in Society, 103(1), 86–100. https://doi.org/10.1177/10443894211063133

Sherraden, M. S., Huang, J., Jones, J. L., & Callahan, C. (2022). Building financial capability and assets in America’s families [Special issue introduction]. Families in Society, 103(1), 3–6. https://doi.org/10.1177/10443894211066464

Sherraden, M. S., Huang, J., Jones, J. L., & Callahan, C. (Eds.). (2022). Building financial capability and assets in America’s families [Special issue]. Families in Society, 103(1). https://journals.sagepub.com/toc/fisa/103/1

Koomson, I., Okumu, M., & Ansong, D. (2022). Introducing the Disease Outbreak Resilience Index (DORI) Using the Demographic and Health Surveys data from sub‑Saharan Africa. Social Indicators Research, 162, 1149–1175. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-022-02881-1

Sun, S., Chen, Y.-C., Ansong, D., Huang, J., & Sherraden, M. S. (2022). Household financial capability and economic hardship: An empirical examination of the financial capability framework. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 43(4), 716–729. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-022-09816-5

Sherraden, M. (2022, January). Financial capability and asset building in social work practice (CSD Perspective No. 22-01). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/a6jt-bb86

Sherraden, M. S. (2022, January). Preparing social workers to improve people’s finances (CSD Perspective No. 22-02). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/w45g-2b72

Huang, J., Sherraden, M., & Sherraden, M. S. (2021). We have clean water and clean air: Why not clean finance, too? A vision for inclusion and equity. In R. Boshara & I. Rademacher (Eds.), The future of building wealth: Brief essays on the best ideas to build wealth—for everyone (pp. 83–89). Federal Reserve Bank and Aspen Institute. https://futureofwealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Sec-2.pdf

Sherraden, M. S., Huang, J., & Jones, J. L. (2021). Human service professionals: A ready workforce for financial capability. In R. Boshara & I. Rademacher (Eds.), The future of building wealth: Brief essays on the best ideas to build wealth—for everyone (pp. 193–199). Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis & Aspen Institute. https://futureofwealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Sec-3.pdf

Birkenmaier, J. M. & Janssen, A. (2021). A policy mapping analysis of goals related to bank accounts in federal legislative proposals. Journal of Policy Practice and Research, 3, 96–117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42972-021-00037-y

Mobile phones have become commonplace in sub-Saharan Africa. There, as in other parts of the world, financial technology has proliferated with the expansion of digital access, opening new doors to financial products and services. But this emerging landscape requires financial acumen, and sound guidance can be hard to find. On July 15, a multinational group of partners gathered virtually to mark the launch of Financial Capability and Asset Building in Africa (FCAB Africa), a new collaboration aimed at meeting these needs.

Zhou, L., Wang, J., & Huang, J. (2021). Brief report: Health expenditures for children with autism and family financial well-being in China. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05214-2

Addison, E. (2021, July). Reflections of a central bank governor (CSD Perspective No. 21-18). Washington University, Center for Social Development.

Center for Social Development. (2021, July). FCAB Africa: Advancing financial stability, security, and well-being (CSD Fact Sheet No. 21-12). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/gmwt-0238

Center for Social Development. (2021, July). FCAB Africa: Summary of achievements as of July 2021 (CSD Fact Sheet No. 21-13). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/j5rd-tr36

Bawumia, M. (2021, July). Lessons on policies that strengthen household financial resilience to overcome shocks: A keynote address by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana (CSD Perspective No. 21-17). Washington University, Center for Social Development.

Birkenmaier, J., Lane, L. B. Callahan, C.,, & Hageman, S. A. (2021). Teaching note—Course models for increased competency for practice integrated with financial capability and asset building. Journal of Social Work Education, 57(3), 604–611. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2020.1714522

Huang, J., Sherraden, M. S., Sherraden, M., & Johnson, L. (2021). Experimental effects of Child Development Accounts on financial capability of young mothers. Journal of Family & Economic Issues, 43,36–50. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-021-09774-4

Johnson, L., Sherraden, M. S., McClendon, G., Birkenmaier, J., Frey, J., Callahan, C., Huang, J., & Rothwell, D. (2021). Financial Capability and Asset Building: Achievements, challenges, and next steps (CSD Conference Report No. 21-11). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/vnr6-ys64

Huang, J., & Guo, B. (2021, April). Building financial capability and assets for disadvantaged entrepreneurs (CSD Research Brief No. 21-10). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/8nyn-h137

Huang, J., & Guo, B. (2021). Fostering entrepreneurship among low-income individuals through financial capability (CSD Working Paper No. 21-08, submitted for publication). Washington University, Center for Social Development.

Ansong, D., Okumu, M., Otchere, F., Koomson, I., & Sherraden, M. (2021). Addressing the burden of education financing in low and lower middle income countries: The role of savings accounts, cash transfers, and other income sources. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 42(4), 745–756. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-021-09757-5

Huang, J., Sherraden, M. S., & Sherraden, M. (2021). Toward finance as a public good (CSD Working Paper No. 21-03). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/p8dd-p256

Ansong, D., Okumu, M., Huang, J., Sherraden, M. S., Johnson, L., & Zou, L. (2020, November). Financial capability and asset building in social and economic development: Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (CSD Perspective No. 20-27). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/vh44-x812

Social workers are all too familiar working with families and individuals who face financial vulnerability. The COVID-19 epidemic has only heightened the issue and expanded the number who are financially at risk due to economic and market forces. In response to a growing request for teaching resources, the Center for Social Development is developing a […]

Huang, J., Sherraden, M. S., Johnson, L., Birkenmaier, J., Loke, V., & Hageman, S. (2020). Preparing social work faculty to teach financial capability: Where we stand. Journal of Social Work Education, 57(), 688–706. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2020.1714524

Huang, J., & Guo, B. (2020, January). The financial capability and financial well-being of low-income entrepreneurs (CSD Research Brief No. 20-01). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/fmxv-kv62

Sherraden, M., Lough, B. J., Sherraden, M. S., Williams Shanks, T. R., & Huang, J. (2019). Applied social research: Aiming for impact. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 10(4), 545–570. https://doi.org/10.1086/706153

Hageman, S. A., Sherraden, M. S., Birkenmaier, J. M., & Loke, V. (2021). Economic and financial well-being in the social work curriculum: Faculty perspectives. Journal of Social Work Education, 57(2), 251–263. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2019.1661919

Sherraden, M. S., & Huang, J. (2019). Financial social work. In C. Franklin et al. (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Social Work. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.923

Nam, Y., Sherraden, M. S., Huang, J., Lee, E. J., & Keovisai, M. (2019). Financial capability and economic security among low-income older Asian immigrants: Lessons from qualitative interviews. Social Work, 64(3), 224–232. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/swz015

Birkenmaier, J., Despard, M., Friedline, T., & Huang, J. (2019, February). Financial inclusion and financial access. In C. Franklin et al. (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Social Work. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.1331

Sherraden, M. S., Birkenmaier, J., & Collins, J. M. (2018). Financial capability and asset building in vulnerable households: Theory and practice. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Watson Grote, M. (2018, May). The pivotal role of human service practitioners in building financial capability (CSD Perspective No. 18-20). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/K7PG1R9S

Birkenmaier, J., Despard, M. R., & Friedline, T. (2018, May). Policy recommendations for financial capability and asset building by increasing access to safe, affordable credit (Grand Challenges for Social Work initiative Policy Brief No. 11-2). Cleveland, OH: American Academy of Social Work & Social Welfare.

Coffey, D. S. (2018, May). Next steps: Whither social work education and financial capability and asset building (CSD Perspective No. 18-16). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/K7T72H1H

Sherraden, M. S., Huang, J., Johnson, L., Dore, P. Birkenmaier, J., Loke, V., & Hageman, S. (2018). Faculty perspectives on financial capability and asset building in social work education: A research report (CSD Research Report No. 18-14). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/K7RV0N7P

Birkenmaier, J., Sherraden, M. S., Frey, J. J., Callahan, C., & Santiago, A. M. (Eds.). (2018). Financial capability and asset building with diverse populations: Improving financial well-being in families and communities. New York, NY: Routledge.

January 10 to January 11, 2018, Council for Advancement and Support of Education, 1307 New York Ave NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC  

Schreiner, M., & Sherraden, M. (2017). Qiong Ren Neng Zan Qian Ma [Can the poor save? Saving and asset building in Individual Development Accounts] (Trans Y. Sun). Beijing, China: Commercial Press.

Birkenmaier, J., Aranda, M., Appelbaum, P. S., & Norman, M. A. (2017). For their financial benefit: Determination of financial capability for adult beneficiaries of Social Security Disability. Social Work, 62(3), 271–273. doi:10.1093/sw/swx020

Wu, S., Despard, M. R., & Chowa, G. (2017). The role of parents in introducing children to financial services: Evidence from Ghana-YouthSave. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 38(3), 453–462. doi:10.1007/s10834-017-9519-6

Sherraden, M. S. (2017). Financial capability. In C. Franklin et al. (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Social Work. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.1201

Frey, J. J., Sherraden, M. S., Birkenmaier, J., & Callahan, C. (2017). Financial capability and asset building in social work education. Journal of Social Work Education, 53(1), 79–83. doi:10.1080/10437797.2016.1256170

Rothwell, D. W., Khan, M. N., & Cherney, K. (2016). Building financial knowledge is not enough: Financial self-efficacy as a mediator in the financial capability of low-income families. Journal of Community Practice, 24(4), 368–388. doi:10.1080/10705422.2016.1233162

Sanders, C. K. (2016). Promoting financial capability of incarcerated women for community reentry: A call to social workers. Journal of Community Practice, 24(4), 389–409.  doi:10.1080/10705422.2016.1233161

Lane, L. B., & Pritzker, S. (2016). Toward culturally sensitive financial education interventions with Latinos. Journal of Community Practice, 24(4), 410–427. doi:10.1080/10705422.2016.1233476

Padua, L. A., & Doran, J. K. (2016). From being unbanked to becoming unbanked or unbankable: Community experts describe financial practices of Latinos in East Los Angeles. Journal of Community Practice, 24(4), 428–444. doi:10.1080/10705422.2016.1233477

Nam, Y., Huang, J., & Lee, E. J. (2016). Ethnic differences in financial outcomes among low-income older Asian Immigrants: A financial capability perspective. Journal of Community Practice, 24(4), 445–461. doi:10.1080/10705422.2016.1233474

Chen, Z., & Lemieux, C. M. (2016). Financial knowledge and behaviors of Chinese migrant workers: An international perspective on a financially vulnerable population. Journal of Community Practice, 24(4), 462–486. doi:10.1080/10705422.2016.1233475

Birkenmaier, J., Sherraden, M. S., Frey, J. J., Callahan, C., & Santiago, A. M. (2016). Financial capability and asset building: Building evidence for community practice. Journal of Community Practice, 24(4), 357–367. doi:10.1080/10705422.2016.1233519

Gates, L. B., Koza, J., & Akabas, S. H. (2017). Social work’s response to poverty: From benefits dependence to economic self-sufficiency. Journal of Social Work Education, 53(1), 99–117. doi:10.1080/10437797.2016.1212752

Horwitz, S., & Briar-Lawson, K. (2017). A multi-university economic capability-building collaboration. Journal of Social Work Education, 53(1), 149–158. doi:10.1080/10437797.2016.1212750

Frey, J. J., Hopkins, K., Osteen, P., Callahan, C., Hageman, S., & Ko, J. (2017). Training social workers and human service professionals to address the complex financial needs of clients. Journal of Social Work Education, 53(1), 118–131. doi:10.1080/10437797.2016.1212753

Stuart, P. H. (2016). Financial capability in early social work practice: Lessons for today. Social Work, 61(4), 297–304. doi:10.1093/sw/sww047

West, S., & Friedline, T. (2016). Coming of age on a shoestring budget: Financial capability and financial behaviors of lower-income millennials. Social Work, 61(4), 305–312. doi:10.1093/sw/sww057

Peters, C. M., Sherraden, M. S., & Kuchinski, A. M. (2016). Growing financial assets for foster youths: Expanded child welfare responsibilities, policy conflict, and caseworker role tension. Social Work, 61(4), 340–348. doi:10.1093/sw/sww042

Banerjee, M. M.  (2016). “We routinely borrow to survive”: Exploring the financial capability of income-poor people in India. Social Work, 61(4), 349–358. doi:10.1093/sw/sww045

Huang, J., Nam, Y., Sherraden, M., & Clancy, M. M. (2016). Improved financial capability can reduce material hardship among mothers. Social Work, 61(4), 313–320. doi:10.1093/sw/sww052

Bent-Goodley, T. B., Sherraden, M. S., Frey, J. J., Birkenmaier, J., Callahan, C., & McClendon, G. G. (2016). Celebrating six decades of social work and advancing financial capability and asset development. Social Work, 61(4), 293–296. doi:10.1093/sw/sww058

Abramovitz, M., & Sherraden, M. S. (2016). Case to cause: Back to the future. Journal of Social Work Education, 52(Suppl. 1), S89–S98. doi:10.1080/10437797.2016.1174638

Birkenmaier, J., Huang, J., & Kim, Y. (2015). Food insecurity and financial access during an economic recession: Evidence from the 2008 SIPP. Journal of Poverty, 20(2), 194–213. doi:10.1080/10875549.2015.1094767

Sherraden, M., & Sherraden, M. S. (2015). Toward productive research agendas in financial inclusion, security, and development. In L. Choi, D. Erickson, K. Griffin, A. Levere, & E. Seidman (Eds.), What it’s worth: Strengthening the financial future of families, communities and the nation (pp. 355–369). San Francisco, CA: Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and Corporation for Enterprise Development.

Sherraden, M. S., Birkenmaier, J., Rochelle, M., & McClendon, G. G. (2015). Financial capability and asset building in social work education: “The big piece missing?” (CSD Working Paper No. 15-44). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.

August 5-7, 2015, ​St. Louis, MO

Rochelle, M., McClendon, G., Brackett, M., Wright, M., & Sherraden, M. S. (2015). Adopting a financial capability and asset building curriculum at historically Black colleges and universities (CSD Working Paper No. 15-36). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.

Curley, J., & Robertson, A. S. (2014). Head Start family financial capability: 2013–2014 annual report of the ASSET Project (CSD Research Report No. 14-27). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.

Busette, C. (2015, April). How do norms inform our approach to financial empowerment? (CSD Perspective No. 15-28). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.

Birkenmaier, J., Sherraden, M. S., & Curley, J. (2013). Financial capability and asset development: Research, education, policy, and practice. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Grinstein-Weiss, M., & Sherraden, M. S. (Eds.). (2015). Starting early for financial success: Capability into action [Special issue]. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 49(1).

Sherraden, M. S., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2015). Creating financial capability in the next generation: An introduction to the special issue. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 49(1), 1–12. doi:10.1111/joca.12067

Morrow-Howell, N., & Sherraden, M. S. (Eds.). (2014). Financial capability and asset holding in later life: A life course perspective. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Loke, V., Libby, M., & Choi, L. (2012, October). MY Path: An innovative initiative to increase financial capability among economically vulnerable youth (MY Path Research Brief). San Francisco: Mission SF Community Financial Center.

Loke, V. (2011). Financial capabilities of service providers: Results of an online survey of the asset-building field in Washington State (CSD Research Report No. 11-03). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.

Sherraden, M. S., Johnson, E., & Guo, B. (2009). Financial capability in children: Effects of participation in a school-based financial education and savings program (CSD Working Paper No. 09-16). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.

Elliott, W., III. (2008). At-risk children’s college aspirations and expectations: The potential of college savings accounts (CSD Working Paper No. 08-17). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.

Elliott, W., III. (2008). Closing the gap in college enrollment: The potential of children’s college accounts (CSD Working Paper 08-16). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.

Johnson, E., & Sherraden, M. S. (2006). From financial literacy to financial capability among youth. Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare, 34(3), 119–145.

Elliott, W., III. (2007). Specifying children’s educational expectations: The potential impact of institutions (CSD Working Paper No. 07-17). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.

Elliott, W., III, & Sherraden, M. S. (2007). The achievement gap from a capabilities and asset perspective (CSD Working Paper No. 07-10). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.

Elliott, W., III. (2007). Examining minority and poor youth’s college aspirations and expectations: The potential role of college savings (CSD Working Paper No. 07-07). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.