Live Poster Session: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/91422364595
Ama A. Agyeman Tuffour
Ama Agyeman Tuffour is a senior (’26) at Wesleyan University, from Kumasi, Ghana. Ama is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Global Engagement. Her academic interests center around decolonial theory and intergroup relations. Outside the classroom, Ama serves as President of both the African Students Association and the SUYA Dance Troupe, where she channels her love for cultural expression through community-building, performance, and advocacy. In her free time, Ama enjoys reading, dancing, and listening to music.
Abstract: Racial economic disparities in the United States remain persistent, particularly in savings and long-term financial security. Prior work shows that beliefs about social mobility and optimism influence financial decision making, yet little research has examined how these psychological factors interact with race to shape saving behavior. Using data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s National Financial Well-Being Survey, this study investigates whether perceived social mobility differs across racial groups and how these perceptions relate to optimism about the future and saving habits. The sample includes Black, Hispanic, and White adults. Perceived Mobility, Saving Habits, and Optimism were measured using seven-point Likert scales. The study evaluates whether optimism serves as a psychological link between perceived mobility and saving. It is predicted that White participants will report higher perceived mobility than Black or Hispanic participants, and that greater perceived mobility will be associated with higher optimism and stronger saving habits across groups. These patterns would highlight the role of subjective opportunity beliefs in sustaining or reducing racial disparities in financial behavior, and they would suggest that policies aimed at closing wealth gaps should address both structural barriers and psychological factors related to financial agency.
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