Health, financial behavior, and financial vulnerability during COVID-19

This chapter provides a review of literature on consumers’ financial behavior, financial vulnerability, and their association with the physical and mental health of consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this review is to summarize the findings from previously published research studies that examined the association between financial wellbeing and health, and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumer finances and consumer wellbeing. The review coverage includes literature published during the COVID-19 pandemic, and from prior periods, that have investigated the unequal impact of economic downturns on the financial and health outcomes of financially vulnerable consumers. The findings from this review of literature reinforce the need for more research that would inform the development of future policies that can help improve the financial capability of vulnerable consumers and contribute towards developing greater financial resiliency in vulnerable and underserved communities.