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The impact of wealth on financial mistakes: Evidence from credit card non-payment

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  • Scholnick, Barry
  • Massoud, Nadia
  • Saunders, Anthony

Abstract

Recent research finds that poorer individuals make financial mistakes when the decisions are difficult and rare. We examine who makes financial mistakes involving decisions that are easier and more frequent – specifically, the inadvertent failure to pay monthly credit card balances when sufficient funds are available. On the one hand poorer individuals may make such mistakes because of lower levels of financial literacy. Alternatively, richer individuals may make such mistakes because of the relatively lower costs to them of such mistakes. We examine this question using confidential individual credit card statement data, with over a million data points. Our results show that poorer individuals are more likely to make these mistakes, even after controlling for education.

Suggested Citation

  • Scholnick, Barry & Massoud, Nadia & Saunders, Anthony, 2013. "The impact of wealth on financial mistakes: Evidence from credit card non-payment," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 9(1), pages 26-37.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finsta:v:9:y:2013:i:1:p:26-37
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfs.2012.11.005
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    6. Yan Yuan & Toshiyuki Sueyoshi, 2017. "Effects of balance transfer offers on consumer short-term finance: evidence from credit card data," Journal of Economic Structures, Springer;Pan-Pacific Association of Input-Output Studies (PAPAIOS), vol. 6(1), pages 1-30, December.
    7. Hongtao Xie & Junwei Zheng & Yunhua Zhang & Hongyang Li, 2019. "Effects of Payment Delays at Two Links in Payment Chains on the Progress of Construction Projects: System Dynamic Modeling and Simulation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-25, July.
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    9. Amari Mouna & Jarboui Anis & David McMillan, 2015. "The factors forming investor’s failure: Is financial literacy a matter? Viewing test by cognitive mapping technique," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 3(1), pages 1057923-105, December.
    10. Fong, Joelle H. & Koh, Benedict SK. & Mitchell, Olivia S. & Rohwedder, Susann, 2019. "Financial literacy and suboptimal financial decisions at older ages," CFS Working Paper Series 630, Center for Financial Studies (CFS).
    11. Giné, Xavier & Mazer, Rafael Keenan, 2022. "Financial (dis-)information: Evidence from a multi-country audit study," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    12. Shen, Chung-Hua & Lin, Shih-Jie & Tang, De-Piao & Hsiao, Yu-Jen, 2016. "The relationship between financial disputes and financial literacy," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 46-65.
    13. Filotto, Umberto & Salerno, Dario & Sampagnaro, Gabriele & Stella, Gian Paolo, 2024. "Riding the wave of change: Buy now, pay later as a disruptive threat to payment cards in the global market," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 72(PA).
    14. Jiang, Jiajun & Lee, Yi-Tsung & Liu, Yu-Jane & Meng, Juanjuan, 2025. "Inattention and credit card repayment date," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    15. Gine, Xavier & Martinez Cuellar, Cristina & Mazer, Rafael Keenan, 2014. "Financial (dis-)information : evidence from an audit study in Mexico," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6902, The World Bank.
    16. Delgado Fuentealba, Carlos L. & Muñoz Mendoza, Jorge A. & Sepúlveda Yelpo, Sandra M. & Veloso Ramos, Carmen L. & Fuentes-Solís, Rodrigo A., 2021. "Household debt, automatic bill payments and inattention: Theory and evidence," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Credit cards; Financial mistakes; Penalty fees; Late fees; Over-limit fees; Cash advances;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages

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