Information and Communication Technology: A Gate or Gateway to Advance Financial Literacy

Authors

  • Christina Cornelia Shuttleworth Department of Management Accounting, University of South Africa, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa,
  • Jaco Moolman Department of Management Accounting, University of South Africa, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa,
  • Antoinette Basson Bureau of Market Research, University of South Africa, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa.
  • Arthur Risenga Bureau of Market Research, University of South Africa, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32479/ijefi.21806

Keywords:

Digital Literacy, Education, Financial Literacy, Fintech

Abstract

Fintech offers unique opportunities to advance financial literacy education, however its broader application is dependent on a range of socio-economic factors. This study aimed to investigate. This study aimed to uncover to what extent certain socio-economic conditions are prevalent in a developing country, such as South Africa, which are necessary for fintech-based financial literacy education interventions. To this end, a quantitative research design was used with a positivist approach with a total of 1,141 respondents. The findings indicate that South Africa possesses a solid foundation for advancing digital financial literacy, supported by widespread internet access, high levels of digital competence, and a reasonable prevalence of financial literacy skills. While current usage of digital financial education tools and apps remains limited, those who do engage with them recognize their value and potential impact. However, efforts are still needed to boost public interest and confidence in these platforms. This study could attract the interest of policymakers, researchers, advocacy groups, financial institutions and fintech companies that are intent on developing more user-friendly and accessible digital financial literacy educational content.

Author Biographies

Christina Cornelia Shuttleworth, Department of Management Accounting, University of South Africa, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa,

Christina Cornelia Shuttleworth (DCom in Financial Management, University of Pretoria), is a Professor in the Department of Management Accounting at the University of South Africa. Prof Shuttleworth has received numerous excellence in research awards from the University of South Africa and her research interests include financial literacy and accounting education.

Jaco Moolman, Department of Management Accounting, University of South Africa, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa,

Jaco Moolman holds a Ph.D. in Accounting Sciences from the University of South Africa, where he is also a Senior Lecturer and Acting Chair of the Department of Financial Intelligence. Dr Moolman is a Certified Financial Planner, member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants, and a fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). His research interests include financial literacy, financial planning, and financial management.

Antoinette Basson, Bureau of Market Research, University of South Africa, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa.

Dr Antoinette Basson is currently employed as a Research Director and Head of the Youth Research Unit at the Bureau of Market Research (Pty) Ltd at the University of South Africa (Unisa).  She is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences and often participates in research activities and educational events.

Arthur Risenga, Bureau of Market Research, University of South Africa, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa.

Mr Arthur Risenga is currently a senior researcher at the Bureau of Market Research (Pty) Ltd (BMR) at the University of South Africa (Unisa). His research expertise, effective planning, and project management skills have contributed to the success of many research projects with high-quality research outputs.  This has also enabled him to contribute to several research publications in various domains including household wealth and financial wellness, customer satisfaction, customer and stakeholder behaviour, business feasibility, management strategic planning, monitoring, and evaluation.

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Published

2026-03-11

How to Cite

Shuttleworth, C. C., Moolman, J., Basson, A., & Risenga, A. (2026). Information and Communication Technology: A Gate or Gateway to Advance Financial Literacy. International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, 16(2), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.32479/ijefi.21806

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 2 (2026)

Section

Articles