When buying a new couch or car, choosing to pay in a lump sum is often cheaper – but it may not feel better in the short or long term. Canvas8 spoke to Stephen Atlas, an assistant professor at the University of Rhode Island, to understand how periodic payments affect the way we perceive purchases.
Stephen Atlas is an assistant professor of marketing at the University of Rhode Island. He researches psychological factors that influence consumer financial decisions. In particular, his research explores how consumers mentally represent decisions involving recurring financial consequences such as home mortgages and subscriptions.