Synopses & Reviews
From the early forms of loans to farmers up to present day credit cards, consumer credit has always been part of human life; however, ever since the Bible, controversy has reigned as to its legitimacy. It is the history of this controversy that is presented here. Outlining significant developments in different aspects of consumer credit from the Hammurabi Code through to current questions such as household overindebtedness, the authors shed historical light on modern debates.
About the Author
Rosa-Maria Gelpi is Vice President and
François Julien-Labruyère is CEO of the International Department, both at Cetelem, the first European group which specializes in consumer credit.
Table of Contents
Credit from Ancient to Modern Times * Usury in the Ancient World * Almsgiving versus Usury * The Two-Sided Attitude of the Church * The Cleavage of the Reformation * The Hypocritical Masks of the
Ancien Régime * The Contrast of the Enlightenment * Toward an Economic Concept *
Consumer Credit in Contemporary Societies * The American Way * European Ways * Are We Overindebted?
Credit from Ancient to Modern Times * Usury in the Ancient World * Almsgiving versus Usury * The Two-Sided Attitude of the Church * The Cleavage of the Reformation * The Hypocritical Masks of the Ancien Régime * The Contrast of the Enlightenment * Toward an Economic Concept * Consumer Credit in Contemporary Societies * The American Way * European Ways * Are We Overindebted?