The credit card pound of flesh

Every time a customer uses a credit card to purchase something, the retail merchant pays an interchange fee to the credit card issuer. Levitin reports that in the U.S. total interchange fees added up to $48 billion last year. He theorizes that lowering the maximum interchange fee allowable would provide a "nice" stimulus to the economy -- without adding to government expenses. Full Story »

Posted by Kaizar Campwala
Tags Help
Editorial Help
Posted by: Posted by Kaizar Campwala - May 19, 2009 - 8:09 AM PDT
Reviewed by: Kaizar Campwala (review)
Content Type: Article
Edit Lock: This story can be edited
Edited by: Kaizar Campwala - May 19, 2009 - 8:09 AM PDT

Reviews

Show All | Notes | Comments | Quotes | Links
Kaizar Campwala
3.8
by Kaizar Campwala - May. 19, 2009

Leonard is able to draw out economic inter-connections that really do help explain "How the world works". Here he does this for the credit card industry's Interchange fees. Fascinating read.

See Full Review » (11 answers)

Comments on this story Help (BETA)

NT Rating | My Rating

Ratings

3.8

not enough reviews
from 1 review (10% confidence)
Quality
3.9
Information
4.0
Insight
4.0
Style
4.0
Context
5.0
Expertise
3.0
Originality
2.0
Relevance
4.0
Responsibility
4.0
Popularity
3.4
Recommendation
3.0
Credibility
4.0
# Reviews
1.0
# Views
5.0
# Likes
1.0
# Emails
1.0
More
How our ratings work »
(See these related stories.)

Links Help

  • Credit Slips: Home Depot Spends More on Interchange than on Health Care Pending

    Posted by Kaizar Campwala
  • Credit Card Industry Aims to Profit From Sterling Payers

    Credit cards have long been a very good deal for people who pay their bills on time and in full. Even as card companies imposed punitive fees and penalties on those late with ...
    Posted by Kaizar Campwala