Paying with Plastic, 2nd Edition: The Digital Revolution in Buying and Borrowing

By David S. Evans, Richard Schmalensee, David S. Evans

Book Overview

Over the course of history there have been four major innovations in how people pay for things: metallic coins in ancient times, checks in the Middle Ages, paper money in modern times, and now payment cards. Since Diners Club issued its first charge cards in 1950, payment cards - credit, debit and charge cards - have revolutionized how and when we pay for goods and services. In 1998 US consumers had more than 720 million payment cards, which they could use to pay for goods and services at more than 4 million merchant locations in the United States and another 11 million in other countries.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0262050625
• ISBN13: 9780262050623
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: MIT Press (MA)
• Length: 373 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.3" x 9.3"