Cashless payments
- Increasing use of contactless cards and mobile wallets (phones, smartwatches)
- Many shops prefer cashless payments: faster queues, reduced theft risk
- Benefits: convenience; easier budgeting through digital records; fewer costs handling cash
- Drawbacks: privacy concerns (transactions tracked); risk of exclusion for older people or those without banking access; system failures can disrupt spending
- Possible solutions: keep cash as an option; improve digital literacy; ensure reliable infrastructure
Payment preferences (selected cities)
| City | Country | Cashless transactions (%) | Urban population |
| Stockholm | Sweden | 95% | 975,000 |
| London | United Kingdom | 80% | 8 million |
| Rome | Italy | 55% | 2.8 million |
