This article explores costs and benefits of two types of debit card authorization methods—signature and PIN (personal identification number)—for merchants, consumers, and financial institutions. It also considers competition between signature- and PIN-based debit cards in the United States...

On June 21–22, 2010, the Chicago Fed and the University of Granada co-sponsored a conference that brought together policymakers, academics and industry practitioners to discuss evolving retail payment systems and the role of public authorities, with several panels focusing on the Single Euro...