FINANCIAL LITERACY VERSUS FINANCIAL CONFIDENCE: A STUDY OF COMMERCE STUDENTS' INVESTMENT PERCEPTION

This paper investigates the reason why numerous commerce students, even with formal finance education, are reluctant to invest their money. “Financial Literacy” pertains to the objective understanding of concepts such as inflation and interest, whereas “Financial Confidence” relates to an individual’s self-assurance in making the right decisions. The study reveals that confidence often plays a more significant role in prompting investment actions than actual knowledge. Research indicates that there is no significant difference in the financial confidence levels of male and female commerce students. The study shows that understanding money is not just about knowing facts. It also involves behavior. Teaching methods need to focus on emotions to help students act on what they know.  This report offers a framework for understanding how to transition students from being ”educated” to becoming “active” investors.