关键词: 互联网使用, 金融素养, 金融决策, 城乡差距

Abstract:  Based on the 2013-2017 panel data of China Household Finance Survey (CHFS), this paper investigates the effects of internet use on households financial literacy and financial decisions. It constructs instrumental variables based on the policy shock from the Broadband China strategy implemented in 2013, and uses the panel instrumental variable model to identify the causal effects of internet use. Results find that, internet use can significantly promote households investment in formal financial products, and financial literacy significantly mediates between them. Internet use also helps to narrow the urbanrural gap in financial literacy and financial decisions. The findings are enlightening for improving households financial literacy and financial decision in China.

Key words:  , internet use, financial literacy, financial decisions, urbanrural gap