Last week I had the pleasure to be the master of ceremonies at the Global Symposium of the OECD. In the presence of H.M. Queen Máxima of the Netherlands and OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría, debates at this high-level symposium in Amsterdam on 20-21 April 2016 focussed on financial education amongst kids, youth, adolescents and adults.
The theme was carefully chosen: “Financial Resilience, throughout life”. Professors, behavioral designers, trendwatchers, policy makers and experts delivered were able to shine their light on topics like:
- How to design effective financial education interventions
- Preparing for the unexpected – avoiding financial vulnerability
- Retirement planning – the role of financial literacy
- Decision making by adolescents – the growing up of a brain
- Making financial education work for youth and in schools
Highlights of the program were an interactive panel session with 4 teenagers from the International School of Rotterdam and a “talk show” with Minister of Finance Jeroen Dijsselbloem and the President of the Dutch Central Bank Klaas Knot.
High-level participants from around the world included officials and experts from the OECD/International Network on Financial Education (INFE), ministries of finance and education, central banks, regulatory and supervisory authorities, governmental officials, international organisations, the academic community, the private sector and NGOs.