CONSUMER CREDIT IN ITALY: WELL-BEING OR FINANCIAL FRAGILITY?Demand for consumer credit on the part of Italian households has risen sharply in recent years. According to the economic reference models for analysis of the choices made by households in terms of consumption, saving and indebtedness,...

The paper focuses on the consumer credit market in Italy and on the related risk of over-indebtedness. Using survey panel data, we investigate the impact of overindebtedness on consumption behaviour, evaluating in particular if consumer credit is used to cover gaps in income and if this is...