How Financial Education affects Mathematics performance? Evidence from Spain in the context of the Program School 2.0

In this paper we evaluate the effect of participation in the Program School 2.0 on both Financial Education and Mathematics performance using data from PISA 2012. The School 2.0 Program was implemented in 2009 in some Spanish Autonomous Communities. This program promoted the use of computers, both in school and at home, among elementary and high school students. We detect that a greater benefit is obtained when the contents of Financial Education are taught in conjunction with the contents of the subject of Mathematics, although the mean effect of Financial Education over Mathematics is more intense in Communities that have not participated in the Program School 2.0. This result may be related to the fact that only a moderate use of computer for personal use increases Mathematics and Financial Education performance. Nevertheless, given the recent implementation of the Program School 2.0, we should expect some "learning effects" that should be confirmed with future data.