FINANCIAL INCLUSION AND ATTITUDE, WITH EDUCATION LEVEL AS A MODERATOR TO IMPROVE MSMEs FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Abstract

This research aims to examine the correlation between financial inclusion, financial attitude, and educational level as a moderating variable on financial management in Muara Gading Mas Village and Margasari Village, East Lampung Regency. This research takes the form of a comparative causal study, aiming to analyze the cause-and-effect relationship between two or more variables. The variables tested in this research are Financial Inclusion (X1), Financial Attitude (X2), and Financial Management as an independent variable (Y), with Educational Level (Z) as the moderating variable. The research subjects include Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) actors in Muara Gading Mas Village (50 respondents) and Margasari Village (30 respondents). Both villages share similar characteristics, including occupations such as fishermen and the presence of MSME activities. The researcher distributed questionnaires to the entire population, totaling 80 respondents, to gather information from MSME actors. The data processing method applied in this research is causality testing using regression analysis and moderating regression analysis using SPSS software version 26. The results of the research show that financial inclusion does not have a significant impact on financial management, while financial attitude has a significant impact on financial management. Moderation testing indicates that the educational level plays a role as a moderation in the relationship between financial inclusion and financial management, while it does not moderate the relationship between financial attitude and financial management. Therefore, an approach focused on financial inclusion should be tailored to the educational level of MSME actors to achieve more effective results in financial management. The novelty of this research lies in the selection of financial inclusion and financial attitude variables moderated by educational level, an aspect that has not been extensively studied before. These findings provide new insights into how these variables interact in the context of financial management in villages with similar characteristics. The implications of this research can serve as a basis for designing more effective financial education programs and financial inclusion policies in similar regions in the future.