A Square Deal for Afterpay

Published: Aug. 10, 2021, 9:30 a.m.

b'Afterpay is the darling of the financial world following its acquisition by US payments fintech Square in the largest acquisition in Australian corporate history, valued at $39 billion AUD. It caps off a monumental run for the pioneer of the Buy Now, Pay Later market. The payment scheme allows its target users to purchase goods upfront and pay them off over 4 fortnightly installments. So is this credit by another name operating in a regulatory loophole? Or is this modern day form of lay-by the future of payments? Square seems to think so, but will they be paying in 4 fortnightly installments too?\\n\\nGuests:\\n\\nJames Sleep, policy advisor at Financial Counselling Australia\\n\\nMarta Khomyn, post-doctoral researcher in economics at UTS\\n\\nLien Duong, senior lecturer in economics and finance at Curtin University'