Consumer credit in comparative perspective

Date
2018-07-01
Authors
Rona-Tas, Akos
Guseva, Alya
Version
Accepted manuscript
OA Version
Citation
Akos Rona-Tas, Alya Guseva. 2018. "Consumer Credit in Comparative Perspective." Annual Review of Sociology, Volume 44, pp. 55 - 75. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-060116-053653
Abstract
We review the literature in sociology and related fields on the fast global growth of consumer credit and debt and the possible explanations for this expansion. We describe the ways people interact with the strongly segmented consumer credit system around the world—more specifically, the way they access credit and the way they are held accountable for their debt. We then report on research on two areas in which consumer credit is consequential: its effects on social relations and on physical and mental health. Throughout the article, we point out national variations and discuss explanations for these differences. We conclude with a brief discussion of the future tasks and challenges of comparative research on consumer credit.
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