Specialists consider that paying with a bank card may lead to higher spending compared to paying with physical cash. This conclusion stems from a scientific analysis published in 2024, which gathered decades of research on the relationship between payment methods and consumer behavior. The study, published in the Journal of Retailing, compiled 71 scientific papers conducted in 17 countries, with data from more than 11,000 participants. The research was conducted by Lachlan Schomburgk, Alex Belli, and Arvid Hoffmann, from the University of Adelaide and Melbourne in Australia.
The results point to a small but statistically significant effect: on average, consumers tend to spend more when using cashless payment methods than when handing over notes and coins. The analysis covers different forms of cashless payment, including debit cards, not limited only to credit cards. The researchers explain that the physical handing over of money makes spending more visible and perceptible, a phenomenon described as the "pain of paying", which may help consumers keep track of their spending.
The study also identified that the effect is stronger for purchases of products associated with displaying social status, such as jewelry. However, for tips and donations, the analysis did not find the same increase in spending. The effect also diminished over time, which the authors attribute to the growing familiarity of consumers with electronic payments.
