in unsecured debt has been particularly striking for low-income households. Some researchers have suggested that poor … these lost earning via other income sources, showing that consumption falls in response to these earnings shortfalls. I also … sufficient access to unsecured credit to help smooth consumption in response to transitory income shocks. …

In 2003 and 2004, MetroEdge conducted a survey of the financial behavior and attitudes of low- and moderate-income …