Consumer Finance

This course covers the law and economics of consumer finance. We will discuss a wide range of consumer financial products related to payment systems, consumer credit, retail investment and insurance with a particular emphasis on how technological innovation has transformed consumer financial markets. These products and services represent the multi-trillion-dollar sector of consumer spending and are a key driver of the U.S. economy. In recent years, particularly following the Global Financial Crisis of 2008, the regulation of consumer finance has become a central concern for financial regulation and consumer protection. This has led to a significant body of law covering many types of financial institutions and actors and a patchwork of state and Federal rulemaking, supervision and enforcement authorities. In this course we will unpack the various elements of regulation of consumer finance, emphasizing the policy motivations and normative underpinnings of current law and regulation.