Abstract

CASTELLANOS, Sara G.  and  GARRIDO, Daniel. Tenencia y uso de tarjetas de crédito en México. Un análisis de los datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Ingresos y Gastos de los Hogares 2006. El trimestre econ [online]. 2010, vol.77, n.305, pp.69-103. ISSN 2448-718X.

We analyze the data of credit card holding and usage in Mexico, through a sample selection model. We find that some features of the household, such as income, head's education level and owners hip of assets that can be used as collateral are related with the decision of having a credit card, as previous research has shown. Furthermore, as two sided markets theories suggest, concentration of bank branches and point of sales (POS) terminals at the locality also are relevant in such decision. POS concentration also results relevant in the expenditure decision, while income loses significance once its effect on the decision of holding a card is controlled for. This new result suggests that use of credit cards would be fostered further if the POS network is expanded than if traditional discount-and income transfer-type reward programs become more generous.

Keywords : tarjeta de crédito; elección de medios de pago; modelo de selección de muestra.