International Journal of Human Ecology

The Korean Home Economics Association (대한가정학회)
권호 표지

Changes in Credit Attitudes among US Consumers: 1992-2004

  • Published : 2007.06.30
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Abstract

Previous studies showed that traditional attitudes toward consumer credit and the accumulation of debtare declining, especially among younger life stage groups. The social stigma of high debt levels has largely gone. However, only a few researchers have studied and changes in consumers' attitudes toward credit and its determinants. This study investigates factors related to the probability of respondents having favorable or unfavorable attitudes using the 1992-2004 U.S. Surveys of Consumer Finances. A logistic analysis was used since the dependent variables were binary. All other things equal, respondents in 1995, 1998, 2001 and 2004 were significantly less likely to have favorable or unfavorable attitudes toward credit than otherwise similar respondents in 1992, but the patterns did not correspond well to the changes in the bankruptcy rate. Black and Hispanic respondents were more likely to have favorable attitudes and less likely to have unfavorable attitudes than were otherwise similar white respondents, but those in the Other group, mostly Asians, were not significantly different from whites. Respondents with college degrees were less likely to have a positive attitude and more likely to have a negative attitude than those without a college degree. Respondents who took risks with investments were more likely to have a positive attitude and less likely to have a negative attitude than those unwilling to take risks. Implications for understanding of credit use are discussed. This publication was made possible by a generous grant from the NASD Investor Education Foundation.

Keywords

References

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