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Consumer cash usage: a cross-country comparison with payment diary survey data

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Listed:
  • Schmidt, Tobias
  • Stix, Helmut
  • Huynh, Kim P.
  • Kosse, Anneke
  • Schuh, Scott
  • Bagnall, John
  • Bounie, David

Abstract

We measure consumers’ use of cash by harmonizing payment diary surveys from seven countries. The seven diary surveys were conducted in 2009 (Canada), 2010 (Australia), 2011 (Austria, France, Germany and the Netherlands), and 2012 (the United States). Our paper finds cross-country differences – for example, the level of cash usage differs across countries. Cash has not disappeared as a payment instrument, especially for low-value transactions. We also find that the use of cash is strongly correlated with transaction size, demographics, and point-ofsale characteristics such as merchant card acceptance and venue. JEL Classification: E41, D12, E58

Suggested Citation

  • Schmidt, Tobias & Stix, Helmut & Huynh, Kim P. & Kosse, Anneke & Schuh, Scott & Bagnall, John & Bounie, David, 2014. "Consumer cash usage: a cross-country comparison with payment diary survey data," Working Paper Series 1685, European Central Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecb:ecbwps:20141685
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    harmonization; money demand; payment systems;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E41 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Demand for Money
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • E58 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Central Banks and Their Policies

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