Financial literacy is not enough: The role of nudging toward adequate long-term saving behavior

Abstract This paper analyzes whether nudging has a relevant effect on financially literate individuals, even if these individuals are professionals with extensive experience of finance and pensions. The paper presents the results of a field experiment with employees of a leading life and pensions company in Spain. The results of the experiment show that financial literacy and awareness of the importance of saving are not enough for individuals to act. Even with pension plan experts, the combination of two types of instruments is necessary: rational instruments, such as financial literacy and awareness of the economic implications of retirement, and nudging, which moves individuals to action…