What's Behind the Boom in Buy Now Pay Later

The Odd Lots podcast episode features Tracy Alloway and Joe Weisenthal interviewing Julie Morgan about Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services. They discuss the evolution of BNPL from a 0% interest payment plan to short-term installment loans with high-interest rates. The conversation covers the lack of comprehensive data on BNPL usage, its impact on consumer debt, and how it's used for essential purchases like groceries and healthcare. The discussion also explores the regulatory challenges, the reluctance of BNPL platforms to report to FICO, and the use of AI in assessing creditworthiness, questioning whether BNPL's increasing availability obscures the growing financial struggles of many families.