Buy-now-pay-later (BNPL)

Relja, Ruffin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9569-6247, Zhao, Anita Lifen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2957-8300 and Ward, Philippa ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4971-8908 (2025) Buy-now-pay-later (BNPL). In: Elgar Encyclopedia of Retailing. Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, pp. 347-350. ISBN 9781035319701

Text 16268 Relja, R et al (2025) Buy Now pay later (BNPL).pdf - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only until 25 December 2026. Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives 4.0. Download (146kB)

Abstract

Contemporary buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) emerged as a financial technology disrupter to traditional banking. It is mainly unregulated short-term, third-party financing that offers split repayments or defers full payment for a limited time. BNPL has become progressively popular with diverse consumers and is increasingly used in business-to-business transactions. Rapid consumer adoption is predicated on simple, fast, and easy access, supported by BNPL platforms that curate retail offers and mobile applications for agreement management. Concerns around possible vulnerabilities and the fueling of over-consumption and over-indebtedness materialised. Given this, the psychological determinants of BNPL use, approaches to credit, and financial outcomes, including well-being, have been investigated. Whilst issues of power and information asymmetry are noted, some BNPL users deploy this form of embedded finance effectively to increase financial flexibility and inclusion. Further investigation of the BNPL ecosystem and the reshaping of actor relationships is needed, as is work on business-to-business BNPL, which has received scant attention.

Item Type:	Book Section
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Financial technology; Short-term credit; Over-indebtedness; Financial flexibility; Responsible finance
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HF Commerce > HF5001 Business > HF5428 Retail Trade H Social Sciences > HG Finance > HG4001 Finance management. Business finance
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Business, Computing and Social Sciences
Depositing User:	Kamila Niekoraniec
Date Deposited:	03 Jun 2026 13:47
Last Modified:	03 Jun 2026 14:00
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/16268

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