Sometimes Education Can Be Bad For You

Yesterday, Congressional staffers were treated to a free, online, “economic principles” lesson, courtesy of Econ4u.org. The Topic: “Credit Markets and Congress: What’s Free and What’s Not.”

Who is Econ4u.org? Well if you live in DC, or commute through the city (as most Hill Staffers do) you’ll know them as the seemingly helpful folks who have blanketed the Metro with a series of ads promoting financial education and literacy. Like the picture featured on the left. If you’re really paying attention, you’ll recognize them as the target of a slew of investigative pieces uncovering the group as a pretty shady organization, affiliated with a host of business front groups with questionable practices.

Econ4u.org appears to be a front group for the payday lending industry. And the impression that one gets from visiting their website is that something fishy is definitely going on there. With an up-front offering of information about “consumer loans like mortgages, student loans, short-term payday loans, credit reports and car loans,” perhaps staff should take the time to find out whether or not this group is the impartial purveyor of financial information it purports to be?

Taking financial and economic advice from Econ4u.org is like taking medical advice from drug reps rather than seeing the doctor. You’re going to get information, and it’s going to sound medical in nature, but let us know how you’re feeling in the morning.

We haven’t seen the contents of the lesson that was delivered to Congressional staff yesterday (Who knows, maybe it's great. Anyone want to send us a copy?) But know this (and that Econ4u.org will never front this piece of information): 76% of payday loan business is repeat business. The industry's predominant business model is more addictive than most drugs. And more importantly, safer, less expensive options exist to cover a financial emergency than a nonbank payday loan.

Credit Unions across the country are beginning to profitably offer small dollar loans on safe, repayable terms to their customers. San Francisco recently announced Payday Plus, a city-led effort to provide a safe, responsible product that meets the same needs as private payday loans, but without the addictive quality. The FDIC established a two-year pilot to explore the feasibility of banks providing such loans. The pilot wraps up later this year, with results forthcoming.

When class adjourned yesterday, let’s hope the pupils remembered there really is no such thing as a free lunch.