Defining Financial Literacy in a New Economic Age

This language includes several elements, all of which are important.

Financial literacy, which represents the basic and essential tools in the financial education tool kit.

Financial capability represents both the potential and the absolute awareness of what is possible, one’s options and opportunities, after one has achieved financial education and financial literacy.

Financial inclusion represents the vision and commitment ( of America ) to include everyone in its future promise and opportunity.

Financial empowerment is what one does with one’s newly discovered financial capability.

And financial dignity is the goal of all financial empowerment efforts, just as the civil rights movement was really a campaign for respect and dignity.

Bryant H. John (2014) How the poor can save capitalism: rebuilding the path to the middle class. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc., p.58-59.