Brechas y desafíos en la educación financiera en Ecuador: un estudio del cantón Santa Rosa, provincia de El Oro, año 2025.

Abstract

Abstract: The research, conducted in the canton of Santa Rosa, province of El Oro, during 2025, studies the gaps in the population's financial education, with the objective of showing its levels of financial education. A descriptive, non-experimental study with a quantitative approach was applied through a structured questionnaire administered to 129 adults living in urban and rural areas of the canton. The results show that place of residence, age, gender, educational level, and income are closely related to citizens' financial capabilities and generate inequalities that hinder inclusion and economic well-being. Women and young people show lower confidence in their financial knowledge, and those living in rural areas face greater difficulties in accessing formal financial services. In addition, more than 50% of microenterprises do not use basic planning tools, which limits their sustainability; the population shows a good disposition toward saving, although its practice has not been efficient, and a large part lacks a defined retirement plan.