We propose a Pandemic Risk Perception Scale. Our scale comprises two constructs, Dread Risk and Personal Exposure, divided into five dimensions: Infection Risk, Emotional Health Risk, Health System Risk,Financial Risk, and Alimentary Risk. Using multidimensional item response theory, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling on two samples of respondents, our results show that Alimentary Risk, Health System Risk, and Emotional Health Risk are the main dimensions of risk perception for the COVID‐19 pandemic. Furthermore, Infection Risk has a minor impact on the pandemic's risk perception, suggesting the presence of different dynamics between personal and general risk perceptions for the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Purpose: The aim of the study is to build and validate a perceived financial well-being scale (PFWBS). Design/methodology/approach: A total of 34 items were developed on a five-point Likert scale. Validation involved two phases and four steps. In the qualitative phase, interviews, validation by specialists and the pre-test were carried out. In the quantitative phase, a sample of 1,020 cases was used in the exploratory stage and another sample of 2,293 individuals in the confirmatory validation stage. Findings: The PFWBS is composed of 23 items distributed in four dimensions (financial security, financial tranquility, financial freedom and satisfaction with financial management) that identify the perception of financial well-being of the consumers of financial products. Practical implications: The authors propose a methodological framework that allows researchers, managers and policy makers to use the indicator to assess citizens' perception of financial well-being. Social implications: The PFWBS can be useful in evaluating the results of different public policies, such as income transfer programs and financial education policies. It can also serve as a parameter for the financial system to assess the perception of its customers, helping to evaluate products and services. Originality/value: Financial well-being lacks valid measurement scales in the literature. This study advances by creating a scale for the assessment of the perception of financial well-being, which can be applied in different contexts.

Resumo O sistema financeiro desempenha papel crucial em qualquer economia. Fatores como forte regulamentação do setor bancário, mensuração e avaliação em termos de desempenho e eficiência vêm sendo fundamentais para as instituições financeiras. A sustentabilidade de longo prazo de cooperativas e bancos demanda a identificação e a comparação das variáveis que influenciam sua rentabilidade. Este estudo realizou a análise de um painel de instituições com características similares, compreendendo o período de 2009 a 2013. Os resultados indicaram que o retorno sobre o ativo dessas instituições mostrou-se afetado por: empréstimos, eficiência (mensurada por meio de análise envoltória de dados), despesas totais, depósitos totais, outras receitas e taxa Selic. Já o retorno sobre o patrimônio líquido mostrou-se influenciado por: depósitos totais, empréstimos, taxa Selic, PIB, inflação, outras receitas e despesas totais. Na amostra estudada, os resultados indicaram que não há diferença estatística se a instituição financeira for classificada como banco múltiplo ou como cooperativa de crédito quando considerado o ROE como medida de desempenho.

Purpose: This article has two main objectives: to measure the level of financial well-being (FWB) of the beneficiaries of the Minha Casa Minha Vida program (PMCMV) and test the hypothesis that financial literacy is an antecedent of the FWB. Originality/value: Considering that there is still no universally accepted definition and measure for the FWB (Brüggen, Hogreve, Holmlund, Kabadayi, & Löfgren, 2017), this study seeks to apply the methodology proposed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in Brazil, since the previous applications attempts of other scales showed great instability. Also, the hypothesis that the financial literacy is a antecedent of the FWB is tested. Design/methodology/approach: To measure the FWB, the scale developed by the CFPB was used. Financial literacy was built from the three dimensions proposed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which are: financial behavior, attitude and financial knowledge. The instrument was implemented in 561 beneficiaries of the three funding ranges of the PMCMV. It was used for descriptive statistical analysis, confirmatory factorial analysis and multiple linear regression. Findings: The results indicated that the majority of the beneficiaries of the program present medium-low and medium-high levels of FWB. The hypothesis that financial literacy is an antecedent of the FWB was confirmed, and all three dimensions had a positive impact. Levels of income also presented a positive influence, whereas the fact of having dependents had a negative impact. The BEF measure proposed by the CFPB seems adequate to the Brazilian context. And advances in the national financial literacy strategies tend to increase the FWB of the Minha Casa Minha Vida program.

Income smoothing: a study of the health sector’s credit unions