Women more prone to go broke?

"Compared to their representation in the total population, women filed bankruptcy at a disproportionately higher rate than men last year," said Leslie E. Linfield, executive director of the Institute for Financial Literacy. "This continues a trend we've seen since 2005."

Information on gender, age, race and other factors was gathered from over 36,000 consumers seeking pre-bankruptcy credit counselling throughout the United States. This project "represents one of the largest data collections of its kind related to bankruptcy filings," according to Linfield.

Demographic data also showed the following:

The average American who is in financial distress and seeking credit counselling and financial education is: Caucasian, married, employed, between the age of 35-44 years old, has at least a high school education if not some college, and makes no more than $30,000 per year.

The primary reasons for their financial distress include: Overextended on credit, reduction of income or job loss, illness or injury.

Other areas of growing concern include: The role that identity theft, education level and age play in bankruptcy.

The full report has been published on the Social Science Research Network at http://www.ssrn.com/abstract=1153454 or downloaded from the Institute for Financial Literacy's website at http://www.financiallit.org/resources/articles.aspx

Source: eMediaWire.com