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Where Does it Go? Spending by the Financially Constrained

Author

Listed:
  • Shawn A. Cole

    (Harvard Business School, Finance Unit)

  • John Thompson

    (H&R Block)

  • Peter Tufano

    (Harvard Business School, Finance Unit)

Abstract

In this paper, we analyze the spending decisions of over 1.5 million Americans who vary in their degree of revealed credit constraints. Specifically, we analyze how these Americans spend their income tax refunds, using transaction-level data from a stored-value card product. Card-holders may choose among several tax settlement and loan options, effectively receiving cash as much as 90 days earlier than would have been possible without a settlement product. Those selecting earlier settlement options pay higher fees and interest, therefore revealing the level of credit constraints or impatience. We find that more credit constrained or impatient individuals spend their monies more quickly. The mix of cash and merchant transactions is similar between more and less constrained groups. Finally, the primary merchant uses of refunds are to pay for necessities (grocery stores, gas stations, etc.), and the fraction of the refund spending devoted to these necessities is higher for those with greater revealed credit constraints.

Suggested Citation

  • Shawn A. Cole & John Thompson & Peter Tufano, 2008. "Where Does it Go? Spending by the Financially Constrained," Harvard Business School Working Papers 08-083, Harvard Business School, revised Apr 2008.
    • Handle: RePEc:hbs:wpaper:08-083
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    Cited by:

    1. John Y. Campbell & Howell E. Jackson & Brigitte C. Madrian & Peter Tufano, 2011. "Consumer Financial Protection," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 25(1), pages 91-114, Winter.
    2. Baugh, Brian & Ben-David, Itzhak & Park, Hoonsuk, 2013. "Disentangling Financial Constraints, Precautionary Savings, and Myopia: Household Behavior Surrounding Federal Tax Returns," Working Paper Series 2013-20, Ohio State University, Charles A. Dice Center for Research in Financial Economics.
    3. Lauren E. Jones & Kevin Milligan & Mark Stabile, 2019. "Child cash benefits and family expenditures: Evidence from the National Child Benefit," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 52(4), pages 1433-1463, November.
    4. Łukasz Gębski, 2013. "Nadmierne zadłużenie gospodarstw domowych – problem finansowo-prawny czy społeczny?," Gospodarka Narodowa. The Polish Journal of Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, issue 4, pages 83-108.
    5. Sherrie L. W. Rhine & Wenhua Di & William H. Greene & Emily Perlmeter, 2016. "Savings Account Ownership During the Great Recession," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 37(3), pages 333-348, September.
    6. Cambpbell, John Y. & Jackson, Howell Edmunds & Madrian, Brigitte & Tufano, Peter, 2010. "The Regulation of Consumer Financial Products: An Introductory Essay with Four Case Studies," Scholarly Articles 4450128, Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
    7. Leslie McGranahan, 2016. "Tax Credits and the Debt Position of U.S. Households," Working Paper Series WP-2016-12, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
    8. Cuffe, Harold E. & Gibbs, Christopher G., 2017. "The effect of payday lending restrictions on liquor sales," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 132-145.
    9. Dubravka Ritter, 2012. "Do we still need the Equal Credit Opportunity Act?," Consumer Finance Institute discussion papers 12-03, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
    10. Sergiu Burlacu & Austėja Kažemekaitytė & Piero Ronzani & Lucia Savadori, 2022. "Blinded by worries: sin taxes and demand for temptation under financial worries," Theory and Decision, Springer, vol. 92(1), pages 141-187, February.

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