Showing archive for: “Payments & Payment Networks”
Credit Cards in Context: Framing the Discussion
While the GAO report provides a useful summary of many of the issues being debated within the credit card community, the GAO’s mandate was, in some ways, rather narrow. The GAO was asked to “review (1) how the fees merchants pay have changed over time and the factors affecting the competitiveness of the credit card ... Credit Cards in Context: Framing the Discussion
Seven Truths About Regulating Interchange
Interchange fees on payment cards are obviously a hot topic in the United States, but also in Europe and in many other countries around the world. The report on interchange fees released last month by the US Government Accounting Office (GAO) notes that more than 30 countries have intervened or are considering intervening in the ... Seven Truths About Regulating Interchange
Moving the Ball Forward: Macroeconomic Considerations
What is most surprising about the GAO report is how little the analytical discussion of this subject has advanced in the last decade. We all know that interchange rates might contribute to higher retail prices: customers that use cheaper payment products can be said to “subsidize” customers that use credit cards. Starting with the Australian ... Moving the Ball Forward: Macroeconomic Considerations
Why Now? The Faulty Economics of Credit Card Reform
About four years ago, I worked for Visa in opposing the opposed limitations on interchange fees that the Australian government was about to impose on the credit card industry. The situation there, like the situation in the United States, seemed hardly propitious for reform. The use of credit cards was rapidly expanding, and the rate ... Why Now? The Faulty Economics of Credit Card Reform
The CFPA's Effect on Consumer Credit and A Wager Proposal for Professor Levitin
Professor Adam Levitin is not impressed by our prediction of the effect on consumer credit of the CFPA. Readers might recall that, using estimates from the literature on the effect of regulatory shocks on interest rates and of the long-term debt elasticity, we offered a (in our words) “rough calculation” of the “lower bound” of ... The CFPA's Effect on Consumer Credit and A Wager Proposal for Professor Levitin
Response to Steve Salop on credit card antitrust
Steve’s post responding to me and Josh on antitrust exemptions and buyer cartels raised a number of interesting issues. A few points in response: 1. Constantine’s book is quite a measured look at the case (not). I love how he risked everything — everything! — for the case. He and the country’s other contingency fee ... Response to Steve Salop on credit card antitrust
Response to Comments on Antitrust Exemptions and Joint Monopsony Conduct to Countervail Monopoly Power
In response to my first post on joint monopsony conduct to countervail monopoly power, Mike Ward raises the issue of justifying a merger among sellers on the basis that it will countervail alleged monopsony power. Labor unions have an antitrust exemption for just that purpose. In terms of merger policy, Tom Campbell has written an ... Response to Comments on Antitrust Exemptions and Joint Monopsony Conduct to Countervail Monopoly Power
Should Antitrust Exempt Joint Monopsony Conduct to Countervail Monopoly?
Geoff and Josh raise an interesting issue about collective market conduct by buyers. Suppose that a group of final consumers face a monopolist. Should the consumers be permitted to band together into an “association” to jointly negotiate a lower price from the monopolist? Some would say that such buyer “cooperatives” are permitted, whereas others would ... Should Antitrust Exempt Joint Monopsony Conduct to Countervail Monopoly?
What Am I Missing About Antitrust Exemptions?
Geoff mentions the pending bills on the Hill that would grant merchants an antitrust exemption to negotiate interchange fees. The insurance industry exemption has also been in the news of late in the wake of the Democrats’ threats of repeal. Here’s what I’m puzzled about. Other than self-interested parties that have a lot to gain ... What Am I Missing About Antitrust Exemptions?
Don't kill interchange fees
Speaking of Josh’s co-author, David Evans, David just testified the other day before the House Financial Services Committee on a bill, the Welch Bill, HR 2382, that would regulate the fees banks charge to each other to process credit card payments. The Welch Bill is actually only one of three pending bills that would regulate ... Don't kill interchange fees
President Obama, the Consumer Financial Protection Agency, and Consumer Choice
My colleague Todd Zywicki and I have a piece out in Lombard Street today on the proposed new Consumer Financial Protection Agency. The issue has a number of contributions from proponents and critics of the new agency. The piece is well timed, with President Obama making the case for the CFPA in his Wall Street ... President Obama, the Consumer Financial Protection Agency, and Consumer Choice
Shouldn't I Just Be Happy My Name is Spelled Correctly?
I’m not generally a big fan of blogging to complain about law reviews or the way that my work has been interpreted by others. I’m generally of the view that the risk of having my work misinterpreted within a reasonable range is my own to bear, and that if it happens, it’s probably due to ... Shouldn't I Just Be Happy My Name is Spelled Correctly?
