The authors examine the characteristics and experiences of rent-to-own customers using a nationwide survey of 532 customers and 11,575 non-customers. The authors find that most customers have low incomes and education levels, but most have a motor vehicle and some type of credit card or bank...

This study uses logit and multinomial logit models and data from a nationwide random sample of rent-to-own (RTO) customers to investigate financial, demographic, regulatory, and other factors associated with consumer use of RTO transactions and the purchase of RTO merchandise. The analysis...

To protect financially distressed families during the COVID-19 pandemic, states implemented emergency measures such as moratoria on evictions and utility shutoffs. These policies prevented utility companies from disconnecting families' energy and water and landlords from obtaining court-ordered...

The number of people in financial distress was expected to increase in the wake of the Pandemic, with the most vulnerable populations likely suffering the most. To protect the most disadvantaged, many states implemented emergency measures, such as utility shutoffs moratorium and suspension on...