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Thrift shopping (the buying of previously owned products) provides products and shopping pleasure for consumers of all economic levels, however, little is known about how information regarding thrift shopping is acquired by consumers. This research aims to investigate whether there may be a “thrift maven,” someone who could and does transmit information about the thrift market to other individuals.

A scale was developed from previous research to identify thrift mavens. Data were collected via survey to see if the scale could be used to segment the market and to assess differences in the mavens' demographics and shopping patterns.

The study found the scale valid and useful. Thrift mavens were found to have lower household incomes, but were as likely to be male as female. This finding was surprising since thrift shopping is a more difficult method of acquiring products, and males in the USA are notable for their dislike of the task of shopping. The study also found that thrift mavens both shop and purchase from thrift outlets more frequently than non‐mavens.

This was a single study in a single setting. Future research should examine whether this type of individual exists across a range of living conditions (e.g. rural, urban settings) as well as examining such areas as the type of behaviors mavens may engage in to assist fellow thrift shoppers.

The value of this paper is in identifying a segment of consumers who may be key informants for other consumers interested in thrift shopping. Thrift outlets typically have a limited promotional budget, at best, and thrift mavens would be a key resource to identify and encourage to shop at the outlet in order to pass on information.

The examination of the differential effects of bailout legislation on well‐capitalized versus under‐capitalized thrifts is the focus of this study. The study examines return responses for portfolios of thrift stocks, formed on the basis of capitalization, to news events concerning bailout funding leading up to and concluding with the President's signing of the Competitive Equality Banking Act of 1987 (CEBA). The results indicate thrifts react differently to legislative news events based on their capitalization levels. This is evidenced by 1) the presence of abnormal returns for portfolios of relatively well‐capitalized and relatively under‐capitalized thrifts, 2) the trends in the size of abnormal returns across well‐capitalized (under‐capitalized) portfolios as the average level of capitalization decreases (increases), and 3) the opposite signs of abnormal returns for relatively well‐capitalized versus relatively under‐capitalized portfolios.

Return and risk performance of US thrift institutions during the period 1986–90 was inversely related to both firm size and the extent to which the thrifts engaged in non‐traditional activities. Our results contrast earlier studies which found economies of scale in the thrift industry. Most of these earlier studies were based on testing periods prior to the deregulatory activity in the early 1980's. The central question addressed in this paper is whether and how this deregulatory activity might have caused an industry which previously experienced economies of scale to experience performance inversely related to firm size. Our results suggest that at least part of this inverse relationship between size and performance is explained by self‐ serving managerial behavior.

Outlines previous research on reasons for the many failures of US thrifts and loans during the 1980s, and suggests that crime played a larger part than is generally supposed. Explains the regulatory system set up to deal with failed thrift institutions and analyses all disposals made by the Resolution Trust Corporation between 1989 and 1995, including its referrals for criminal investigation. Shows for each year and in total the proportions disposed of by insured deposit transfers, pay‐outs and purchase and assumption contracts; the value of assets/liabilities involved; and the cost of resolution to the taxpayer. Goes on to show that the failed thrifts affected by criminal activity (almost half!) accounted for almost 80 per cent of total resolution costs and were more likely to be larger institutions. Contrasts these results with previous research, recognizes the limitations of the study and calls for further investigation.

This chapter presents case studies that explore the structures of indigenous savings group practices in Nigeria. Indigenous savings groups in Nigeria can be categorised as either unstructured, semi-structured or structured. These categorisation of savings groups can follow two patterns, which include Rotating Savings and Credit Associations (ROSCAs) and Accumulated Savings and Credit Associations (ASCAs). Through a qualitative case analysis of savings practices in Nigeria, we observed that the indigenous savings groups have similar goals and orientations, though their operating structures differ. The chapter highlighted the relative theme that cuts across these cases, and insightful recommendations are provided for upscaling and adopting indigenous savings groups in Nigeria and Africa. The chapter also discusses the role of government in facilitating savings and credit disbursement to groups. The implications for business actors and the government are highlighted.

Traces the events which led up to the US savings and loan crisis. Discusses the role that the property appraiser played in the process. Concludes that the savings and loan crisis not only helped to identify chronic weakness and problems in the structure of the profession but also helped to solve those problems.

Title III of the USA Patriot Act obligated the private sector to take a more active role in deterring money laundering and disrupting terrorist financing. Complying with the new law has increased the cost of doing business dramatically for firms in the financial services industry. This study aims to apply a heterogeneous‐firm model of regulation to test whether the anti‐money laundering (AML) provisions of the Patriot Act redistributed wealth within the commercial banking and thrift sectors.

The paper analyzes a dataset comprising more than 150,000 observations.

The empirical evidence suggests that, owing to scale economies in regulatory compliance, the burden has fallen more heavily on smaller institutions. Moreover, the study does not find that the rules written to implement Title III have differentially impacted banks and thrifts at greater risk of being targeted by money launderers, as a public‐interest theory of regulation would predict.

The paper focuses on the AML provisions of the USA Patriot Act.

This article provides the reader with a general understanding of the financial crisis of the U.S. savings and loan industry and a brief description of how the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC) has dealt with one aspect — records management.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of consumer motivation in the context of the circular economy (CE) through the reuse of fashion products.

A qualitative approach was employed through ethnographic as well as in-depth interviews with nine consumers who buy used fashion products in thrift stores and street fairs in Brazil.

The findings are based on interrelationships and overlaps found in the integration between the three-dimensional consumer motivations to buy second-hand fashion cited in the literature. A framework showing a virtuous circle of motivations involving the consumer in an active role in the CE is proposed as a result.

Limitations include participants’ selection and a single region data collection. Implications aim to help researchers to more fully understand a new and complex consumer behavior in a CE.

By highlighting consumers’ motivations for this kind of commerce, the practical implications of this work are the possibilities to inspire retailers to start second-hand fashion businesses. Also, policy makers can focus on engaging consumers in active roles that foster CE events.

This work is one of the first attempts to show the role of consumers in the CE and their motivations to engage in this active behavior.