My research interests include financial decision-making (with an emphasis on the relationship between financial knowledge and observable financial behavior), college student financial behavior, and financial satisfaction and well-being.
Recent press
Slimmer Black Friday crowds as pandemic impacts holiday shopping, WKOW 27 News, November 27, 2020
Student loans might keep you from buying a house with Dr. Cliff Robb, Gen Z Green Podcast, November 9, 2020
How the pandemic is impacting Halloween spending this year, NBC 15 News, October 19, 2020
Advice to investors worried about coronavirus: ‘No reason to make any moves’, CBS 58 News, March 6, 2020
How big is America’s household debt burden today? Overall, not so bad, PolitiFact, December 27, 2019
Publications
Robb, C. A., Schreiber, S., & Heckman, S. (in press) The role of federal and private student loans in homeownership decisions. Journal of Consumer Affairs.
Robb, C. A. (2017). College student financial stress: Are the kids alright? Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 38(4), 514-527.
Robb, C., Babiarz, P., Woodyard, A., and Seay, M. (2015) Bounded rationality and use of alternative financial services. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 49(2), 407-435.
Robb, C. A. (2011). Financial knowledge and credit card behavior of college students. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 32(4), 690-698.
Robb, C. A., & Woodyard, A. S. (2011). Financial knowledge and ‘best practice’ behavior. Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning, 22(1), 36-46.
Robb, C. A. & Sharpe, D. L. (2009). Effect of personal financial knowledge on college students’ credit card behavior. Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning, 20(1), 25-43.
Classes Taught
- Course number: CNSR SCI 627: Course title: Advanced Consumer Finance
- Course number: CNSR SCI 675: Course title: Family Financial Counseling

Department
- Consumer Science
Degree Program
- BS Personal Finance
- PhD Human Ecology: Consumer Behavior and Family Economics
Affiliations
- Center for Financial Security
- Institute for Research on Poverty
Education
- PhD, Personal Financial Planning, University of Missouri–Columbia
- MS, Consumer Economics, University of Alabama–Tuscaloosa
- BA, Psychology (minor: History), University of the South
Contact
Office: 4202 Nancy Nicholas Hall
Phone: 608-262-3053
Email: carobb@wisc.edu
Websites:
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