Unveiling inequalities in consumer credit and payments

Abstract

Previous research has documented significant, and often persistent, disparities in credit and payments market participation and outcomes across many socioeconomic and demographic categories. Continuing study of the mechanisms and consequences of such inequality is vital for understanding its sources, persistence, and potential remedies. This Special Issue on Inequality in Consumer Credit and Payments helps to deepen the academic and policy discourse through a multifaceted approach that combines both empirical and theoretical analysis, offering new insights into the structural challenges at play and the potential policy responses that might mitigate them.