How does economic recession in the United States alter the financial services utilized and demanded by low-income migrant populations, studied through Cash Republic customers?

Started July 11, 2022

Abstract or project description

Given the recent economic recession in the United States following the COVID pandemic, different income brackets have their spending habits and financial instruments impacted in different manners. A change in the financial services needed and utilized by each income bracket during the recessionary period could be a potential outcome. My research aims to analyze the effects of an economic recession on the financial services used by low-income clients of Cash Republic, a financial technology firm that provides low-income individuals with a wide array of financial services. The target study group, "low-income", and the bracket that we aim to analyze among Cash Republic clients is clearly defined (to be determined). A survey of the study group to determine their financial service needs in a recessionary environment was performed. The survey contained a comprehensive list of services potentially consumed by the target group including checking accounts, debit and credit cards, prepaid cards, personal loans, auto loans, auto insurance, and international money transfer, allowing the respondents to select their demand and current use of each of the above services, and how these have changed . The survey allowed respondents to fill in demographic information along with the aforementioned information.