Consumer Credit in Europe, 1st ed. 2021 Macro- and Microeconomic Perspectives

This book provides a comprehensive outlook on the state and role of consumer credits in the European economy and households. It underlines the role of consumerism and digitalisation, in the framework of legislation. It covers two major turns in consumer credit evolution: the 2008 crisis and Covid pandemic. The first had socio-economic sources, the second one was an external event, but provoked important changes in consumer behaviour. Lockdowns deepened the preference for digital financial products. FinTech and BigData operators acquired broader opportunities with the development of distance services.

These new financial services need adapted legislation. The recently published project of Consumer Credits Directive covers new means of communication, such as smartphones, and extends rules to new ways of crediting, like crowdfunding.

Maria Lissowska is a professor of economics at the Warsaw School of Economics. Her research focuses on institutional and financial economics. In 2007 – 2018 she was an official of the European Commission, specifically responsible for analysis and legislation of consumer credits. She then returned to research and now publishes on financial issues including   consumer credits and crowdfunding.