When inclusive bank lending becomes harmful to consumers

Well-functioning financial systems support the functioning of all components of the economy, by facilitating transactions and the flow of resources between deficit and surplus economic units (Mishkin, 2007). A key asset of the South African economy is its well-developed financial systems. However, the regulation of such systems is a complex task, and regulatory failures in financial systems pose large risks for the wider economy. Given these concerns, it is interesting to examine some of the characteristics of the South African financial system, especially as regards consumer indebtedness.