Financialisation and the perceived impact of an economic crisis on European households

Financialisation has led to increased indebtedness among households and their greater exposure to financial markets, thereby making them vulnerable to economic volatility. This paper aims to evaluate the impact of financialisation on households’ perceptions of the 2010–2014 economic crisis in five representative European countries (Germany, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, and the UK), using household-level data. The data reveals that higher debt levels are connected to a more severe impact of the crisis, particularly for households that have personal loans. While households with higher ability to interact with financial institutions are better protected against debt-related risks, saving is an essential method of mitigating the impact of a crisis. The fluctuation of house prices is a crucial factor that influences the impact of financialisation on households. In addition, we have studied the wellbeing of households and found that financialisation negatively impacts both life satisfaction and, to a lesser extent, eudaimonic wellbeing. Our findings emphasise the need for changes in both households’ attitudes towards finance and public policies.