Usury: A Forgotten Concept?

Abstract

<h5>Comment on: Udo Reifner/ Michael Schroeder (2012) (eds) <a href="http://www.rusobzor.org/download-pdf-usury-laws-book-by-bod-books-on-demand.pdf">Usury Laws – A legal and economic Evaluation of Interest Rate Restrictions in the European Unio</a>n, BoD: Norderstedt 2012.</h5><p>The European countries have a strong tradition and sentiment against usury, both historically and in present time. However, what practical conclusion should be drawn from that sentiment seem to be lost in the contemporary credit economy. There is no common European policy or law, but the member states have set up their own policies, which vary widely. Regulation of usury can be systematized into three types: the civil law tradition, the criminal law and the administrative/consumer protection regulation, representing different degree of individualization of the problem. <br /></p>