Money Management Behavior of Undergraduates in an Emerging Economy: The case of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Money management behaviour of undergraduates is an academically researchable area as their decisions relating to money management not only have an impact on their life itself but also it affects long-term financial stability of an organization, an industry and a nation. In the context of developing countries stock of knowledge relating to money management behaviour is heavily focused on functional financial literature, there is a significant lack of published research focused on factors beyond different aspects of financial literacy. The purposes of this study include exploring factors beyond financial literacy that influence money management behaviour of undergraduates, investigating how undergraduates respond to these main influences to manage their money and to understand the level of influences on money management behaviour of undergraduates. The study was carried out in Sri Lanka, a developing country. It adopted both qualitative exploratory approach and quantitative survey method. The data were collected using focus group discussions and a structured questionnaire from different academic disciplines at a state-owned Sri Lankan university. Forty undergraduates participated in focus group discussions and 964 questionnaires were collected. Based on the literature, economic, social and psychological factors were identified as influencing money management behaviour. The thematic analysis identified subthemes that emphasised how undergraduates respond to economic, social and psychological factors. Based on comparative analysis, the study identified the deviations in money management behaviour and selected influences of undergraduates with respect to gender and academic discipline. Theoretical and practical implications as well as future research directions are provided.