Del éxito global a la estrategia nacional: Un análisis de modelos de educación financiera para el contexto colombiano

Abstract

Low financial literacy in Colombia is presented as an insurmountable barrier to economic development and social equity, as the population lacks the necessary skills for informed decisions on saving, investment, and risk management. This study aims to critically analyze the financial education models and strategies implemented in countries with advanced financial markets (United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand). The research uses a documentary, qualitative, and comparative approach, supported by a systematic literature review. Successful international models demonstrate that inter-institutional articulation, continuous impact measurement, the inclusion of financial education in the school curriculum, and audience segmentation are essential for financial well-being. The comparative analysis reveals that, although Colombia has made progress with the National Strategy for Economic and Financial Education (ENEF), the country faces structural limitations, such as fragmented governance, the absence of systematic diagnostics, and weak monitoring of results. It is concluded that the main challenge lies in transforming dispersed efforts into a coherent, articulated, and sustainable national system. Therefore, the paper proposes strategic recommendations, including the need to strengthen institutional governance through a single coordinating body, incorporate financial education compulsorily and transversally into basic education, adopt clear population segmentation, create an integrated national measurement system (utilizing, for example, ICFES/Saber tests), and establish a sustainable multi-year financing model. The objective is to improve the financial well-being of Colombian households and build a fairer and more resilient economic environment.