A further issue concerns who is best equipped to provide financial education relevant for SMEs’ managers and entrepreneurs. Ideally education should start in schools (mainly at secondary and university levels) but industry associations could play an active role. Banks too may have a special role to play in providing adequate and practical information to their clients.
Evidence from Italy suggests that specific information policies implemented by banks have been able to raise the financial literacy of their customers (mainly individuals) and improve their financial asset allocation (Fort, Manaresi and Trucchi, 2014). Finally, a few words on our role as regulators and central banks. Financial education programmes are now offered by a number of regulators, available to both students and adults.