Yet more than maths is needed if this country is to be able to reduce household and personal debt, start saving more and take more financial responsibility for the future.
Justin Urquhart Stewart, co-founder and head of corporate development for Seven Investment Management, comments: “Given the depressed UK growth projections, it’s hard not to see the Budget’s maths focus through the prism of ‘gosh, we’re going to need some decent mathematicians!’.
“It’s a sensible approach, but it would be even better if it could be joined up with decent personal finance education. Financial literacy goes hand in hand with basic numeracy skills and neither have to be daunting.”
While not everyone agrees that financial education in schools should be a priority, Mr Urquhart Stewart believes that, like everything else, it is all about how it is delivered.
He adds: “Making maths relevant and fun has always been the key, and personal finance is the perfect channel. I’ve never met a young person yet who isn’t interested in money.”
simoney.kyriakou@ft.com
