Research on consumer financial vulnerability (CFV) was especially encouraged in the aftermath of the 2007–2008 financial crisis, becoming a phenomenon of global interest to academics and policy makers. This paper reviews the existing academic literature on CFV with the aim of mapping out four research fields (i.e., the concept, the measures, the methods, and the drivers of this phenomenon) and providing a roadmap for a future research agenda for this field. To this end, we review the last two decades of academic research on households’ financial vulnerability, thereby presenting a hybrid literature review. Evidence from a comprehensive analysis of 98 academic papers suggests that this is still an emerging and highly fragmented field and, therefore, a comprehensive future research agenda is offered, including concrete suggestions for research designs and measurements. The proposal of a homogeneous definition of financial vulnerability, the consideration of measures that include subjective aspects of the phenomenon, the use of qualitative methods, and the development of more detailed theoretical and empirical research on the drivers of CFV, are among the authors’ recommendations for future research.

Purpose: The ongoing evolution of the Internet and the subsequent digitalisation of financial services, along with the ever-increasing innovation of financial products, have rendered consumers more vulnerable to a wider range of fraud in the banking sector and, particularly, to consumer financial fraud (CFF). This paper aims to analyse the factors that may contribute to CFF exposure and victimisation among Spaniards, with a special focus on financial literacy. Design/methodology/approach: This paper provides a comprehensive overview of leading publications on the topic, followed by empirical analyses using regression models with a sample of 6,207 Spanish individuals drawn from the Survey of Financial Competences. Findings: Objective and subjective financial knowledge are positively correlated with CFF exposure via email but do not protect against CFF victimisation. Similarly, financial knowledge overconfidence is positively related to the former but fails to constitute a driver of the latter. Financial inclusion, measured by the number of financial products held, not only increases the risk of this exposure but also contributes to its subsequent victimisation. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, no previous paper has analysed the relationship between CFF and financial literacy by differentiating two types of vulnerabilities to fraud (exposure and victimisation) while considering different constructs of financial literacy. Dissecting these two domains may explain why the same financial literacy construct can have different effects at both stages of financial fraud and, furthermore, how different financial literacy constructs may affect the same stage of financial fraud.

In the aftermath of the 2007–08 financial crisis, the worsening financial conditions of households increased concerns about their financial vulnerability (FV). In this context, policymakers embraced the notion of financial knowledge to foster sound financial behaviors among individuals and households, aiming to mitigate the detrimental effects of FV on households’ financial wellbeing and the overall economy. However, the relationship between FV and financial literacy remains inconclusive. This lack of definitive findings may stem from limitations in measuring FV and narrow focus on specific dimensions of financial literacy. This paper analyzes the relationship between financial literacy and FV by creating a comprehensive measure of (the level of) FV and considering different dimensions of financial literacy. Using a sample of 8,554 individuals in Spain obtained from the 2016–17 Survey of Financial Competences, we construct a continuous measure of FV by using Nonlinear Principal Components Analysis (NLPCA). Then, we employ OLS and ordered probit regressions to examine the potential association between different dimensions of financial literacy and FV. The findings indicate that the level of FV is negatively related to self-perceived financial knowledge, while no statistically significant relationship is found regarding objective financial knowledge. Evidence also reveals that “highly financially included” individuals are more likely to exhibit financial resilience. These findings highlight the need for the development of financial education initiatives that are action-oriented.

Individuals’ financial capability, resulting from the combination of the financial literacy they have and the opportunity to access financial products, is a challenge in today's societies and, particularly, for certain population groups such as the millennial generation. For this reason, it is important to study the financial capability of millennials and to validate whether there are differences regarding that of preceding generations. After the literature review, the empirical analysis is carried out using a sample based on the Survey of Financial Competences (SFC). The sample is composed of 6,852 non-retired individuals under 65 years of age, of which approximately 34% are millennials. Descriptive and econometric analyses are based on this sample. However, financial inclusion is more related to the financial behaviours of respondents. This relationship is clear, regardless of the generational cohort analysed, in the delay in payments, the maintenance of emergency funds and the financial planning horizon. It is also found that the correlation of some behaviours with financial literacy is more similar between millennials and non-millennials than when the former is compared with their peers. This research contributes to the existing financial literature through the analysis of the financial capability of the Spanish millennial generation and the analysis of how this capability influences its financial behaviour. In this sense, the research brings empirical evidence to a field of study in which there is hardly any reference that goes beyond descriptive analyses focused on AngloSaxon contexts.

Small enterprises make up practically the entire Spanish and international business tissue. Although these agents are essential for employ creation, they are also the ones that suffer the most from the instability of the economic context, partly due to the moderate financial literacy of their managers. Using a sample of 1,120 small enterprises obtained during 2021, this paper diagnoses the level of financial literacy of their owners/managers based on their sociodemographic characteristics. The results show those financial knowledge, attitudes and behaviors that can be strengthened in business people. Accordingly, this research provides some recommendations to improve business financial literacy Las pequeñas empresas suponen la práctica totalidad del tejido empresarial español e internacional. Pese a que estos agentes son esenciales para la creación de empleo, también son los que más sufren la inestabilidad del contexto económico, en parte, por la moderada alfabetización financiera de sus gestores. Utilizando una muestra de 1.120 pequeñas empresas obtenida durante 2021, en este trabajo se hace un diagnóstico del nivel de alfabetización financiera de sus propietarios/gestores, a través del diseño de diferentes clústeres de naturaleza singular. A su vez, se relacionan esos niveles con las características sociodemográficas de los encuestados. Los resultados muestran aquellos conocimientos, actitudes y comportamientos financieros que pueden ser fortalecidos en las personas empresarias. En consonancia, esta investigación aporta algunas recomendaciones para mejorar la alfabetización financiera empresarial As pequenas empresas constituem praticamente todo o tecido empresarial espanhol e internacional. Embora estes agentes sejam essenciais para a criação de emprego, são também os que mais sofrem com a instabilidade do contexto económico, em parte devido à moderada literacia financeira dos seus gestores. A partir de uma amostra de 1.120 pequenas empresas obtidas em 2021, este trabalho diagnostica o nível de alfabetização financeira de seus proprietários/gestores com base em suas características sociodemográficas. Os resultados mostram aqueles conhecimentos financeiros, atitudes e comportamentos que podem ser fortalecidos nos empresários. Em linha, esta pesquisa fornece algumas recomendações para melhorar a alfabetização financeira empresarial.

Previous research has related household financial fragility (FF) and the employment status of the household members by focusing only on the labour income channel. In contrast, the literature has scarcely addressed the study of this relationship from a psychological perspective that could be related to the theory of bounded rationality. This article aims to analyse how job expectations relate to the level of household FF. Using a sample of 8554 Spanish individuals in the period 2016–2017, we construct a multidimensional index of household FF. The results indicate that households with unemployed, self-employed, or part-time workers have higher levels of FF, but the job expectations of the household and the individual play an even more important role in the level of the FF. These findings suggest that the perception of labour market uncertainty may influence the level of household FF to a greater extent than the objective employment situations of the individuals.