Financial literacy:the case of migrant African-Australian women entrepreneurs in the cairns region

Abstract

Purpose: To explore the financial literacy of eleven migrant African-Australian women entrepreneurs in the Cairns region. Methods: A qualitative case study approach was used to investigate financial literacy of eleven women via semi-structured interviews; survey questionnaire; and researcher's reflective journal. Findings: revealed that: (1) all the participating women had a high level of financial literacy; (2) the higher the level of education and English language proficiency of the women, the higher the level of financial literacy. Research limitations/Implications: The data was gathered from migrant women in one geographical region, so the results are limited in applicability and cannot be inferred to be similar to different regions and cultures. Similar research could be undertaken and cover a wider region, in order to gather more substantial data from a larger number of women and obtain more representative findings. Originality/value: This study provides empirical data of financial literacy among participating women, contributes to a new body of knowledge and provides a foundation for further research in this area. The study serves to inform aspiring migrant African-Australian women entrepreneurs themselves and may inform policymakers. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Njaramba, J.; Chigeza, P.; Whitehouse, H. 2015. Financial literacy: the case of migrant African-Australian women entrepreneurs in the cairns region, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues 3(2):198-208. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.9770/jesi.2015.3.2(7) JEL Classifications: M12; M53