Title
Credit and Community: WorkingClass Debt in the UK since 1880,Used
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Credit and Community examines the history of consumer credit and debt in working class communities. Concentrating on forms of credit that were traditionally very dependent on personal relationships and social networks, such as mailorder catalogues and cooperatives, it demonstrates how communitybased arrangements declined as more impersonal forms of borrowing emerged during the twentieth century.Tallymen and check traders moved into doorstep moneylending during the 1960s, but in subsequent decades the loss of their best working class customers, owing to increased spending power and the emergence of a broader range of credit alternatives, forced them to focus on the 'financially excluded'. This 'subprime' market was open for exploitation by unlicensed lenders, and Sean O'Connell offers the first detailed historical investigation of illegal moneylending in the UK, encompassing the 'she usurers' of Edwardian Liverpool and the violent loan sharks of Blair's Britain.O'Connell contrasts such commercial forms of credit with formal and informal cooperative alternatives, such as "diddlum clubs," "partners," and mutuality clubs. He provides the first history of the UK credit unions, revealing the importance of Irish and Caribbean immigrant volunteers, and explains the relative failure of the movement compared with Ireland.Drawing on a wide range of neglected sources, including the archives of consumer credit companies, the records of the cooperative and credit union movements, and government papers, Credit and Community makes a strong contribution to historical understandings of credit and debt. Oral history testimony from both sides of the credit divide is used to telling effect, offering key insights into the complex nature of the relationship between borrowers and lenders.
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- Q: What is the main focus of 'Credit and Community'? A: 'Credit and Community' examines the history of consumer credit and debt in working-class communities in the UK since 1880, exploring the evolution from community-based credit systems to more impersonal borrowing methods.
- Q: Who is the author of this book? A: The author of 'Credit and Community' is Sean O'Connell, who provides a detailed historical investigation into the subject matter.
- Q: What types of credit does the book discuss? A: The book discusses various forms of credit, including traditional personal credit arrangements, mail-order catalogues, co-operatives, and the rise of doorstep money-lending and illegal money-lending.
- Q: How does the book compare traditional credit systems to modern ones? A: It contrasts community-based credit systems with commercial, impersonal borrowing methods, highlighting the decline of personal relationships in lending.
- Q: What insights does the book offer about credit unions? A: 'Credit and Community' provides the first history of UK credit unions, emphasizing the roles of Irish and Caribbean immigrant volunteers and comparing their success to that of credit unions in Ireland.
- Q: Is 'Credit and Community' suitable for academic study? A: Yes, the book is suitable for academic study as it draws on a wide range of neglected sources, including archives and government papers, making it a valuable resource for understanding credit and debt.
- Q: What is the condition of the book? A: 'Credit and Community' is available in 'New' condition, ensuring that readers receive a pristine copy.
- Q: When was 'Credit and Community' published? A: 'Credit and Community' was published on March 15, 2009.
- Q: How many pages does the book have? A: The book contains 318 pages.
- Q: What type of binding does the book have? A: 'Credit and Community' is bound in hardcover, providing durability and a professional appearance.