Financial Literacy and the Profitability of Entrepreneurial Projects

Abstract : Financial matters are becoming increasingly complex, placing financial education at the forefront of governments’ concerns. It is now widely accepted that people with a sound financial education make informed choices regarding financial management. In an entrepreneurial context characterised by a relentless pursuit of performance, this article aims to assess the impact of financial education on the profitability of entrepreneurial projects. To carry out this work, we adopted a quantitative methodological approach; the non-probabilistic sampling method based on reasoned selection enabled us to set the sample at 128 project managers. We conducted a survey and collected data which were analysed using frequency statistics and multiple regression tests. Prior to this, we applied PCA to extract the items relevant for constructing the factor axes, and Cronbach’s alpha was used to ensure the internal consistency of these items. The results confirm that entrepreneurs’ cognitive abilities and financial literacy significantly improve the economic and financial profitability of entrepreneurial projects. This finding suggests the need to develop training programs dedicated to the financial education of young entrepreneurs and to facilitate access to financial services and technologies.