Knowledge Resources & Publications

Urban Aboriginal use of fringe financial institutions

September 2011

Urban Aboriginal use of fringe financial institutions

The authors analysed the use of fringe financial institutions (FFIs), such as payday loan and check cashing providers, by urban Aboriginal people in Prince George, British Columbia. They found that 60% of FFIs' clients surveyed self-identified as Aboriginal and had lower average incomes, lower levels of education, and a higher incidence of being unemployed as compared to non-Aboriginal FFI clients. The authors argue that government policy towards regulating the FFI industry is inadequate for meeting the basic financial needs of urban Aboriginal people.

Citation

Bowles, P., Ajit, D., Dempsey, K., & Shaw, T. (2011). Urban Aboriginal use of fringe financial institutions: Survey evidence from Prince George, British Columbia. The Journal of Socio-Economics, 40(6): 895-902. DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2011.08.005.