The buy now, pay later juggernaut is about to be tested

A hot new way to buy stuff could be a hot new way to get into trouble. Some see it as a much-needed alternative to credit cards, whilst others see it as a ‘gateway drug’ to debt for the financially unsavvy. However, it undoubtedly represents one of the most significant and rapid consumer credit changes. But is it here to stay? Esmé E. Deprez, Evan Weinberger, and Jennifer Surane look at the issues facing buy now pay later businesses such as Afterpay, Klarna, and Affirm, such as economic uncertainty, competition, regulators, and the usual consumer debt problems that are spoiling their fun.