The essential guide to understanding poverty in the UK, 2023
A comprehensive review, by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, of the latest evidence to identify trends and understand the experiences and challenges of poverty in the UK in 2022
A comprehensive and replicable review of all relevant studies on a topic with a summary of findings
An indicative review of a sample of relevant studies on a topic with a summary of findings
Topics: Saving, Credit Use and Debt, Budgeting and Keeping Track
Country/Countries: United Kingdom, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales
Year of publication: 2023
An interpretative analysis of the links between money and mental health among Australian adults and opportunities to build on existing, effective activities in the money and mental health sectors.
Qualitative research is more exploratory, and uses a range of methods like interviews, focus groups and observation to gain a deeper understanding about specific issues - such as people’s experiences, behaviours and attitudes.
Quantitative research uses statistical or numerical analysis of survey data to answer questions about how much, how many, how often or to what extent particular characteristics are seen in a population. It is often used to look at changes over time and can identify relationships between characteristics like people’s attitudes and behaviours.
Topics: Saving, Credit Use and Debt
Country/Countries: Australia
Year of publication: 2022
Measuring the long-term impacts of debt advice, 2021
Results from a two-year quantitative longitudinal pilot study by the Money and Pensions Service to understand in-depth the medium and long-term impacts of encouraged debt advice on clients in the UK.
Information about the programme design and rationale
Evidence about Financial Capability outcomes for programme participants
Evidence that the Financial Capability outcomes were caused by the programme
Evidence about programme implementation, feasibility, and piloting
Evidence about relative costs and benefits of the programme
Topics: Credit Use and Debt
Country/Countries: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2022
Falling behind to keep up: the credit safety net and problem debt
A report based on new quantitative research, into the extent to which credit is being used as a safety net by adults in the UK. It includes consideration of who uses such borrowing and why, and its impact.
Qualitative research is more exploratory, and uses a range of methods like interviews, focus groups and observation to gain a deeper understanding about specific issues - such as people’s experiences, behaviours and attitudes.
Quantitative research uses statistical or numerical analysis of survey data to answer questions about how much, how many, how often or to what extent particular characteristics are seen in a population. It is often used to look at changes over time and can identify relationships between characteristics like people’s attitudes and behaviours.
Topics: Credit Use and Debt
Country/Countries: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2022
This report from the Bevan Foundation explores the impact of the pandemic on problem debt in Wales.
Qualitative research is more exploratory, and uses a range of methods like interviews, focus groups and observation to gain a deeper understanding about specific issues - such as people’s experiences, behaviours and attitudes.
Quantitative research uses statistical or numerical analysis of survey data to answer questions about how much, how many, how often or to what extent particular characteristics are seen in a population. It is often used to look at changes over time and can identify relationships between characteristics like people’s attitudes and behaviours.
Topics: Credit Use and Debt
Country/Countries: Wales
Year of publication: 2021
Why Adults Regularly Use Credit for Food and Bills: A Review
This review draws on research evidence from the last five years to consider why a substantial minority of households regularly use credit for essentials.
A comprehensive and replicable review of all relevant studies on a topic with a summary of findings
An indicative review of a sample of relevant studies on a topic with a summary of findings
Topics: Credit Use and Debt
Country/Countries: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2020
Does borrowing behaviour influence financial wellbeing?
Standard Life Foundation commissioned the University of Bristol to conduct a rapid evidence review to understand people’s borrowing behaviour and how it impacts their financial wellbeing.
A comprehensive and replicable review of all relevant studies on a topic with a summary of findings
An indicative review of a sample of relevant studies on a topic with a summary of findings
Topics: Credit Use and Debt
Country/Countries: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2019
An outstanding balance? Inequalities in the use – and burden – of consumer credit in the UK
This briefing note from Resolution Foundation explores changes in the use of consumer debt over the past decade and argues that policymakers should turn their attention to the spread of consumer debt, and specifically the extent to which low-to-middle income households are increasingly exposed.
A comprehensive and replicable review of all relevant studies on a topic with a summary of findings
An indicative review of a sample of relevant studies on a topic with a summary of findings
Topics: Credit Use and Debt
Country/Countries: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2020
Shining a light on illegal money lending: consumer experiences
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) carried out this research to improve their understanding of illegal money lending, by hearing the stories of hard-to-reach consumers from those who work to help them.
Qualitative research is more exploratory, and uses a range of methods like interviews, focus groups and observation to gain a deeper understanding about specific issues - such as people’s experiences, behaviours and attitudes.
Quantitative research uses statistical or numerical analysis of survey data to answer questions about how much, how many, how often or to what extent particular characteristics are seen in a population. It is often used to look at changes over time and can identify relationships between characteristics like people’s attitudes and behaviours.
Topics: Credit Use and Debt
Country/Countries: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2017
Time to Act: A Field Experiment on Overdraft Alerts
As part of the high-cost credit review, the FCA wanted to understand the impact of automatically enrolling customers into just-in-time arranged overdraft alerts and early warning alerts for overdrafts and unpaid items.
Qualitative research is more exploratory, and uses a range of methods like interviews, focus groups and observation to gain a deeper understanding about specific issues - such as people’s experiences, behaviours and attitudes.
Quantitative research uses statistical or numerical analysis of survey data to answer questions about how much, how many, how often or to what extent particular characteristics are seen in a population. It is often used to look at changes over time and can identify relationships between characteristics like people’s attitudes and behaviours.
Topics: Credit Use and Debt
Country/Countries: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2018
Money and Mental Health Rapid Evidence Review
This report outlines the findings of a rapid evidence review of recent studies considering the links between money and mental health in the UK to highlight new findings on the relationships between money (defined broadly as personal financial circumstances) and mental health and to reflect on the extent to which the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the current cost of living situation has shaped these issues.
A comprehensive and replicable review of all relevant studies on a topic with a summary of findings
An indicative review of a sample of relevant studies on a topic with a summary of findings
Topics: Saving, Credit Use and Debt, Financial Capability
Country/Countries: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2023
Money and mental health financial tool feedback report
A tool used by practitioners/support workers in mental health services to address financial worries, debt, and money management among patients. It was delivered in South Tyneside and Sunderland Lifecycle Primary Care Mental Health Service and Tyneside and Northumberland MIND, targeting individuals with mental health issues.
Information about the programme design and rationale
Evidence about Financial Capability outcomes for programme participants
Evidence that the Financial Capability outcomes were caused by the programme
Evidence about programme implementation, feasibility, and piloting
Evidence about relative costs and benefits of the programme
Topics: Credit Use and Debt, Budgeting and Keeping Track, Financial Capability
Country/Countries: England
Year of publication: 2022
How to Use Behavioural Science to Increase the Uptake of Debt Advice.
A ’Top Tips’ guide derived from a novel and innovative pilot project exploring engagement in the advice sector.
Qualitative research is more exploratory, and uses a range of methods like interviews, focus groups and observation to gain a deeper understanding about specific issues - such as people’s experiences, behaviours and attitudes.
Quantitative research uses statistical or numerical analysis of survey data to answer questions about how much, how many, how often or to what extent particular characteristics are seen in a population. It is often used to look at changes over time and can identify relationships between characteristics like people’s attitudes and behaviours.
Topics: Credit Use and Debt, Financial Education
Country/Countries: United Kingdom, England
Year of publication: 2017
Changing Behaviour to Provide Innovative Debt Advice Services
The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), developed, tested and evaluated the impacts of three prototypes with service providers, to understand if introducing behavioural changes when giving debt advice made a positive difference to client services, while supporting employees.
Information about the programme design and rationale
Evidence about Financial Capability outcomes for programme participants
Evidence that the Financial Capability outcomes were caused by the programme
Evidence about programme implementation, feasibility, and piloting
Evidence about relative costs and benefits of the programme
Topics: Saving, Credit Use and Debt
Country/Countries: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2020
Helping those who use credit to make ends meet
This review considers evidence on the latest evidence on the financially vulnerable, with a specific focus on those using credit to make ends meet.
A comprehensive and replicable review of all relevant studies on a topic with a summary of findings
An indicative review of a sample of relevant studies on a topic with a summary of findings
Topics: Credit Use and Debt
Country/Countries: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2022
Doorway to debt: Protecting consumers in the home credit market
An analysis of Citizen’s Advice client data, and a modelling exercise to assess the impact of a total-cost cap on home credit loans.
Qualitative research is more exploratory, and uses a range of methods like interviews, focus groups and observation to gain a deeper understanding about specific issues - such as people’s experiences, behaviours and attitudes.
Quantitative research uses statistical or numerical analysis of survey data to answer questions about how much, how many, how often or to what extent particular characteristics are seen in a population. It is often used to look at changes over time and can identify relationships between characteristics like people’s attitudes and behaviours.
Topics: Credit Use and Debt
Country/Countries: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2018
The wellbeing effects of debt and debt-related factors
A literature review and data analysis of the relationship between debt and subjective wellbeing, using data from a longitudinal British survey on wealth and assets
Qualitative research is more exploratory, and uses a range of methods like interviews, focus groups and observation to gain a deeper understanding about specific issues - such as people’s experiences, behaviours and attitudes.
Quantitative research uses statistical or numerical analysis of survey data to answer questions about how much, how many, how often or to what extent particular characteristics are seen in a population. It is often used to look at changes over time and can identify relationships between characteristics like people’s attitudes and behaviours.
Topics: Credit Use and Debt
Country/Countries: England, Scotland, Wales, United States
Year of publication: 2020
Locating credit and debt within an anti-poverty strategy
A comprehensive and replicable review of all relevant studies on a topic with a summary of findings
An indicative review of a sample of relevant studies on a topic with a summary of findings
Topics: Credit Use and Debt
Country/Countries: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2015
Improving financial wellbeing through the debt advice journey
An evaluation of interventions that seek to improve financial capability among clients experiencing problem debt.
Information about the programme design and rationale
Evidence about Financial Capability outcomes for programme participants
Evidence that the Financial Capability outcomes were caused by the programme
Evidence about programme implementation, feasibility, and piloting
Evidence about relative costs and benefits of the programme
Topics: Credit Use and Debt
Country/Countries: England
Year of publication: 2020
Inequalities in the use and burden of consumer credit
This 2020 report examines the inequalities in the use and burden of consumer credit in the UK.
Qualitative research is more exploratory, and uses a range of methods like interviews, focus groups and observation to gain a deeper understanding about specific issues - such as people’s experiences, behaviours and attitudes.
Quantitative research uses statistical or numerical analysis of survey data to answer questions about how much, how many, how often or to what extent particular characteristics are seen in a population. It is often used to look at changes over time and can identify relationships between characteristics like people’s attitudes and behaviours.
Topics: Credit Use and Debt
Country/Countries: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2020
