![](https://csdc-cecd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Speaker-Series-2020-2021-Patricia-Posey-2-642x336.jpg)
The Centre for the Study of Democratic Citizenship presents:
Patricia Posey (University of Chicago)
Race and Indebted Access: How the Fringe Economy Shapes Political Inclusion
The talk will be moderated by Prof. Debra Thompson (McGill).
You can learn more about Professor Posey here.
Where and When: Friday, May 28, 2020 at 3pm on Zoom.
Abstract: Access to resources (e.g., money, time) shapes political attitudes and behavior, yet we know very little about how private financial institutions may shape these relationships. This talk explores the links between exposure to financial services such as pawnshops, check-cashing outlets, and payday loans (collectively known as the fringe economy) and democratic inclusion. Lenders and financial actors offer necessary services, but often on exploitative terms that limit or eliminate their long-term benefits for racial minorities, the poor, and the credit-poor. I present evidence that regulatory design influences how individuals from marginalized communities experience fringe economy services and confirms their beliefs about the government and markets. Individuals in fringe economy neighborhoods develop service-specific beliefs about the predatory nature of the services and government responsiveness, which inform broader political orientations. I conclude that the views of government that citizens develop through fringe economy exposure explain more general political action patterns and alienation.
See all the other Speaker Series Events here.
This series is sponsored by the Centre for the Study of Democratic Citizenship, which is funded by the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (FRQSC).