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Switching from Cash to Cashless Payments during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond

Author

Listed:
  • Tomasz Piotr Wisniewski

    (The Open University)

  • Michal Polasik

    (Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun)

  • Radoslaw Kotkowski

    (Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun)

  • Andrea Moro

    (Lund University)

Abstract

Using a survey of 5,504 respondents from 22 European countries, we examine preferences regarding cash and cashless payments at the point of sale (POS) during the COVID-19 crisis. Consumers favor cashless transactions when they believe that handling cash presents a higher risk of infection. Moreover, the habits they develop during periods of restrictions and lockdowns appear to further diminish their appetite for transacting in cash. Not only do these factors affect current choice of payment method, but they also influence declared future intentions to move away from cash after the pandemic is over.

Suggested Citation

  • Tomasz Piotr Wisniewski & Michal Polasik & Radoslaw Kotkowski & Andrea Moro, 2024. "Switching from Cash to Cashless Payments during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond," International Journal of Central Banking, International Journal of Central Banking, vol. 20(3), pages 303-371, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:ijc:ijcjou:y:2024:q:3:a:7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Yacine Belghitar & Andrea Moro & Nemanja Radić, 2022. "When the rainy day is the worst hurricane ever: the effects of governmental policies on SMEs during COVID-19," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(2), pages 943-961, February.
    2. Marie-Claire Broekhoff & Carin van der Cruijsen, 2022. "Paying in a blink of an eye: it hurts less, but you spend more," Working Papers 760, DNB.
    3. Jonker, Nicole & van der Cruijsen, Carin & Bijlsma, Michiel & Bolt, Wilko, 2022. "Pandemic payment patterns," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    4. Ueda, Kozo, 2024. "Effects of bank branch/ATM consolidations on cash demand: Evidence from bank account transaction data in Japan," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    5. Toshitaka Sekine & Toshiaki Shoji & Tsutomu Watanabe, 2022. "Going Cashless: Government’s Point Reward Program vs. COVID-19," CARF F-Series CARF-F-538, Center for Advanced Research in Finance, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo.
    6. Kotkowski, Radoslaw & Polasik, Michal, 2021. "COVID-19 pandemic increases the divide between cash and cashless payment users in Europe," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    7. Toshitaka Sekine & Toshiaki Shoji & Tsutomu Watanabe, 2021. "Going Cashless: Evidence from Japan’s Point Reward Program," CARF F-Series CARF-F-525, Center for Advanced Research in Finance, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo.
    8. Laddawan Kaewkitipong & Charlie Chen & Jiangxue Han & Peter Ractham, 2022. "Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) and Trust Factors for the Continuance Intention of Mobile Payment Services," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-15, November.
    9. Dmitry V. Boguslavsky & Natalia P. Sharova & Konstantin S. Sharov, 2021. "Cryptocurrency as Epidemiologically Safe Means of Transactions: Diminishing Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Spread," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(24), pages 1-19, December.
    10. Agnieszka Huterska & Anna Iwona Piotrowska & Joanna Szalacha-Jarmużek, 2021. "Fear of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Social Distancing as Factors Determining the Change in Consumer Payment Behavior at Retail and Service Outlets," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-18, July.
    11. Dominik Höpperger & Codruta Rusu, 2022. "Payment behavior in Austria during the COVID-19 pandemic," Monetary Policy & the Economy, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank), issue Q4/21, pages 85-104.
    12. Kotkowski, Radoslaw, 2023. "National culture and the demand for physical money during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    13. Rajas Saroy & Sakshi Awasthy & Naveen K. Singh & Sonali M. Adki & Sarat Dhal, 2022. "The Impact Of Covid-19 On Digital Payment Habits Of Indian Households," Bulletin of Monetary Economics and Banking, Bank Indonesia, vol. 25(Special I), pages 19-42, March.
    14. Semerikova, E., 2024. "Cashless payments beyond access: What influences the intensity of use?," Journal of the New Economic Association, New Economic Association, vol. 64(3), pages 171-188.
    15. Toshitaka Sekine & Toshiaki Shoji & Tsutomu Watanabe, 2021. "Going Cashless: Evidence from Japan’s Point Reward Program," Working Papers on Central Bank Communication 036, University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Economics.
    16. Carin van der Cruijsen & Marie-Claire Broekhoff, 2024. "Gender gaps in the world of payments," Working Papers 805, DNB.
    17. Toshitaka Sekine & Toshiaki Shoji & Tsutomu Watanabe, 2022. "Going Cashless: Government’s Point Reward Program vs. COVID-19," Working Papers on Central Bank Communication 040, University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Economics.
    18. Batiz-Lazo, Bernardo & Bautista-González, Manuel A & González-Correa, Ignacio, 2021. "La transformación en el uso de efectivo y pagos digitales durante la pandemia de Covid-19 [Thye transformation in the use of cash and digital payments during the Covid-19 pandemioc]," MPRA Paper 109943, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    19. Broekhoff, Marie-Claire & van der Cruijsen, Carin, 2024. "Paying in a blink of an eye: it hurts less, but you spend more," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 221(C), pages 110-133.
    20. Carbó-Valverde, Santiago & Cuadros-Solas, Pedro J. & Rodríguez-Fernández, Francisco & Sánchez-Béjar, José Juan, 2023. "Mobility restrictions and payment choices: The case of the Covid-19 pandemic," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 40(C).
    21. Barbara Gawior & Michal Polasik & Josep Lluís del Olmo, 2022. "Credit Card Use, Hedonic Motivations, and Impulse Buying Behavior in Fast Fashion Physical Stores during COVID-19: The Sustainability Paradox," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-16, March.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E41 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Demand for Money
    • E42 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Monetary Sytsems; Standards; Regimes; Government and the Monetary System
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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