Consumer Welfare Implications of Regulating Rent-to-Own Transactions

In this study, we analyze the consumer welfare implications of regulating Rent-to-Own (RTO) transactions. We conclude that the benefits and costs of mandatory disclosure and labeling regulations currently imposed by most states are likely small, and that the effects of imposing a Federal baseline for such regulations would also be relatively small. On the other hand, we conclude that regulations imposed by a handful of states which treat RTO agreements as credit sales, or directly regulate RTO prices, substantially reduce consumer welfare, and should be repealed