ชาวนอร์ดิกมีวิธีคิดอย่างไรที่ช่วยให้การเงินดีตั้งแต่เด็ก? | NEW GEN INVESTOR (HL)

Only about one-third of adults worldwide possess financial literacy, but a group of Nordic countries—Denmark, Norway, and Sweden—have reversed this trend, with 71% of their populations demonstrating high financial literacy. New Invest highlights that this achievement stems from a strong foundation in financial education starting from childhood. According to Nordea, a major financial institution, learning personal finance is akin to learning a new language, with grammatical rules shifting to the topic of money. Teaching children early familiarity with financial concepts, like a new language, enables them to communicate well and survive effectively in the financial world. This approach mirrors language acquisition, beginning with listening, speaking, reading, and writing, so that children who hear and understand financial stories from a young age find it easier to acquire these skills as adults. Each of these Nordic countries employs distinct methods for financial education. Sweden has a long history of financial literacy, with its School Savings Movement dating back to 1901. Children are taught about saving, from basic math concepts to advanced life skills like saving for retirement and understanding mortgages. Denmark integrates finance into its curriculum as a compulsory subject for students in grades 7 to 9. They also dedicate a "Global Money Week" for grades 1 to 3, inviting financial experts to teach children aged 13-15, as this age group is considered receptive to financial matters. In Norway, the National Bank leads in designing interactive learning materials to engage children. These materials cover planning income, budgeting, and understanding significant debts like house purchases, often delivered through internet platforms and Nordea Bank's computer systems. Nordea Bank has also partnered with apps like Gimme to create financial management apps for children. These apps help children manage pocket money, with parents able to link their bank accounts. The apps allow children to set spending and saving goals, track allowances earned from chores or homework, and engage with over 40 fun quizzes and lessons on topics like interest rates, saving, and debt management. Beyond structured education, cultural values significantly influence financial literacy in these countries. One such concept in Sweden is "Lagom," meaning "just right"—not too much, not too little. This teaching encourages children to live a life of moderation, prioritizing needs over wants and focusing on practical and beneficial spending. For example, it encourages buying an affordable house that is manageable in terms of repayments, rather than an overly large or extravagant one. Another Swedish cultural principle is "Jantelagen," which translates to "the law of Jante," emphasizing financial humility. Children are taught not to boast about wealth or flaunt luxury goods. The belief is that financial assets are a personal matter, not for public display. This cultural norm helps reduce comparison among children and foster financial stability and confidence. The overall aim is to ensure children grow into adults who are happy, financially stable, and wise in allocating their money, ultimately becoming "New Genen Investors."