The Gender Gap in Financial Literacy in Russia: From Stereotypes to Reality

The article is devoted to the study of the gender gap in financial literacy of the Russian population. Unlike most countries around the world, where the gap traditionally favours men, Russian research shows a different picture. Based on the data of the All-Russian Household Survey on Consumer Finances (AHSCF) for 2018–2024, an analysis of gender differences in objective knowledge, their subjective self-assessment, and the degree of confidence in their knowledge among men and women was conducted. In this work, the authors use the analysis of descriptive statistics, comparison of average values, regression modeling, including panel with individual fixed effects, and Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition. Empirical assessment shows that in Russia women do not demonstrate a persistent lag in objective knowledge. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the gap is greatest in low-education groups and virtually disappears among full-time employed respondents. In the 36–55 age group, there is a slight advantage for women. A panel analysis with fixed effects shows that gender dynamics of knowledge do not differ over the study period. The authors contribute to the discussion about the manifestations and nature of the gender gap, an understanding of which is important for the formation of a financial culture in Russia, proposing to consider it not so much as a cognitive deficit, but as a result of the interaction of socio-psychological factors and the institutional context.