Listener Lisa questions why society remains attached to cash despite a shift towards digital payments. The hosts delve into who still uses cash, revealing surprising demographics. They highlight the issues cash alleviates and the challenges of a fully cashless society. Government efforts to maintain cash services and the risk of losing cash accessibility during banking outages are discussed. They ponder the future of cash, suggesting it may wane but persist in specific scenarios.
The decline in cash usage spans all demographics, showing that even rural communities are adapting to electronic payments due to improved connectivity.
Despite the trend towards cashless transactions, certain groups, particularly the elderly, still prefer cash for its perceived security during technical failures.
Deep dives
The Decline of Cash Usage
The use of cash in transactions has significantly decreased, primarily from 32% to around 16% as reported a few years ago, with current figures potentially being even lower due to the impact of COVID-19. Initially, it was assumed that cash users were predominantly older individuals or those in lower socioeconomic groups; however, recent evidence indicates that the decline spans all demographics and locations. Connectivity improvements mean that even rural areas, once reliant on cash due to limited card options, have adapted to electronic payments. The podcast highlights this trend, noting how the shift towards cashless payments is occurring across all age groups and financial backgrounds.
The Importance of Retaining Cash
Despite the declining usage, there remains a desire among certain segments of the population to retain the option of using cash for transactions. Some individuals, such as elderly people, find comfort and security in having physical cash, viewing it as a safety net during instances of bank outages or technical failures. The government recognizes the need to maintain cash availability, ensuring that essential services continue to accept it for those who prefer this mode of payment. The discussion also touches on cash's role in the informal economy, emphasizing the government's interest in regulating transactions to recover potential tax revenues associated with cash-based exchanges.
Listener Lisa asks: You mentioned on the podcast that the RBA Governor has committed to keeping cash in the economy, even though fewer people are using it, and it's getting uneconomical to move it around. Why are we so wedded to cash? Who is actually still using it? Why don't we just bite the bullet and go cashless. Surely we'll end up there one day anyway - so why not now?
Join Sean Aylmer & Michael Thompson as they answer listener questions.