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on Financial Literacy and Education |
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Issue of 2024‒04‒08
two papers chosen by Viviana Di Giovinazzo, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca |
| By: | Hu, Bowei (University of California, Los Angeles) |
| Abstract: | Racial minorities, often sidelined by traditional financial systems, are a primary demographic for alternative financial services (AFS). While promoting financial inclusion is seen as a way to address racial disparities in the use of AFS, this claim is often complicated by selection and post-treatment biases. Drawing on data from the National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households (2015–2019) with over one hundred thousand households and adopting causal decomposition analysis, this study investigates the effect of bank account ownership on racial disparities in three AFS channels: payday lending, pawn shop loans, and check cashing. Results confirm that Black and Hispanic households are more inclined to use these AFS compared to their White counterparts. Notably, the results uncover a distinct impact of hypothetically increased bank account ownership for unbanked households. While it decreases the reliance on nonbank check cashing among banked racial minority households, it paradoxically escalates payday loan usage within Black households when they become banked. These results suggest that while expanding bank account ownership can reduce certain AFS dependencies, it inadvertently perpetuates a form of exclusive inclusion that leads more financially included Black households to opt for payday loans. |
| Date: | 2024–03–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:mcew5&r=fle |
| By: | Meyer, Justus; Teppa, Federica |
| Abstract: | This paper contributes to understanding consumers' retail payment preferences and digitalisation in personal finances. We focus on the acceptance of cashless payments in everyday situations and the use of mobile banking apps in the euro area, where the payment services market has changed significantly in recent years. In particular, we study app-based tools for day-to-day (offline) purchases that involve small amounts of money as well as digital tools for managing personal finances. By looking at factors associated with using non-cash payment methods, and app-based financial services solutions, we shed light on the topic of financial inclusion in payment services that concern consumers’ everyday choices. Using granular microdata from the European Central Bank's Consumer Expectations Survey, we find that most people prefer to use only one payment instrument. After the COVID-19 pandemic, it has mostly been cash and contactless cards. The use of cash is partly due to limited perceived acceptance of non-cash payments by merchants. We also find substantial cross-country heterogeneity and highlight the prominent role of demographic factors in choosing non-cash payment options and app-based tools when managing personal finances. While mobile banking is already popular amongst euro area consumers, the use of smart payment methods remains very limited. Our findings suggest that financial service providers should recognize the growing preference of the younger generations for alternative payment methods. Creating awareness among consumers might also lead to positive feedback effects by reducing consumers’ reliance on cash through higher perceived availability of non-cash payment options. JEL Classification: C13, D12, E42, O33 |
| Keywords: | cash, Consumer Expectations Survey (CES), digitalisation, FinTech, payment preferences |
| Date: | 2024–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ecb:ecbwps:20242915&r=fle |