# Multimedia 

Multimedia 

---

- [Podcasts](/podcasts)
- [Cato Video](/multimedia/cato-video)
- [Video Series](/search/category/video-series)
- [Events](/multimedia/events)

Download:

[ 

Video 

](https://fastly-unsigned-us-east-1-prod.brightcovecdn.com/media/v1/pmp4/static/clear/6039378657001/2f3701d9-ba2c-4723-9494-a34b35de629f/643b197d-3758-4547-8f1b-474f068ebd45/main.mp4) 

[ 

Video 

](https://cdn.cato.org/archive-2014/cbf-09-30-14.mp4) 

[ 

Audio 

](https://cdn.cato.org/archive-2014/cbfa-09-30-14.mp3) 

Events • September 30, 2014 

# *Consumer Credit and the American Economy*

Why do people borrow? An attempt to live beyond their means or income smoothing that accompanies growing prosperity? *Consumer Credit and the American Economy* examines the economics, behavioral science, sociology, history, law, and regulation of consumer credit in the United States. The authors look at why Americans use credit and the implications for both the American economy and government regulation. With the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, created by the Dodd-Frank Act, spreading its wings, there is perhaps no better time to have an in-depth discussion about the past and future of consumer credit. This panel features some of the leading experts in consumer financial regulation, who have served as both regulators and scholars. This event is being co-sponsored by the Federalist Society.

[![Creative Commons License](/build/cato_2020/images/creative-commons.svg)](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) 
This work is licensed under a [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/). 

##### Featuring 

[![Todd Zywicki](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2021-01/Todd%20Zywicki.jpg?itok=GH375poJ)](/people/todd-zywicki) 

##### [Todd Zywicki](/people/todd-zywicki)

Former Senior Fellow, Cato Institute. Coeditor of the Cato book Unprofitable Schooling: Examining Causes of, and Fixes for, America’s Broken Ivory Tower

[ 

](https://twitter.com/ToddZywicki) 

##### Anthony Yezer 

![Heidi M. Schooner circle](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2025-08/heidi-m-schooner-circle.jpeg?itok=AuJaQ77c) 

##### Heidi M. Schooner 

Antonin Scalia Law School

[![Calabria Cropped](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2021-10/calabria-cropped.jpg?itok=5EpCNOFT)](/people/mark-calabria) 

##### [Mark A. Calabria](/people/mark-calabria)

Former Director, Federal Housing Finance Agency; Former Chief Economist, Vice President Mike Pence; Former Senior Advisor, Cato Institute

[ 

](https://x.com/MarkCalabria) [ 

](mailto:mcalabria@cato.org)