Using a survey in the Netherlands, we find that high inflation perceptions are associated with low trust in Dutch politics and the Dutch central bank, also if we control for a broad array of potential confounding factors. The higher individuals’ perceived inflation is and the harder it is for them to make ends meet, the lower their trust in Dutch politics, the Dutch central bank, and the European Central Bank. We also find that trust in an authority is lower when it is considered responsible for bringing inflation down. Quite remarkably, most people think the government is responsible for maintaining price stability.

We analyse whether and how individual savings and current account holders respond to government interventions, due to the financial crisis, at banks. We employ a difference-in-difference analysis and distinguish between a nationalisation and a capital injection. We show that current account holders of the nationalised bank are more likely to switch away shortly after the bail-out. Second, we find heterogeneity in consumer responses to government interventions, depending on the type of intervention and banking product. Consumers who trust the government are less likely to switch their current account from a nationalised bank. Furthermore, risk averse current account holders at a bank that received a capital injection are more likely to switch, which suggests the presence of a wake-up call effect. Finally, we report that financial literate current account holders are more likely to switch away after a nationalisation, and financial literate savings account holders are more likely to switch away from the recapitalised bank. The latter finding also indicates that risk awareness increased.

What does the general public know about banking supervision? What objectives does the public think bank supervisors should pursue? We investigate these issues using a survey among Dutch households. First, we find that the public's knowledge about banking supervision is far from perfect. We also find that respondents often expect more from supervisors than they can realistically achieve. Finally, our findings suggest that better-informed people have more realistic views on banking supervision. Realistic views on banking supervision lead to more prudent financial behavior, which, in turn, contributes to financial stability. Therefore, the communication policies of banking supervisors should aim to improve the public's knowledge about banking supervision.

COVID-19 has temporarily changed the relative costs and benefits of different payment methods: cash has become more costly in terms of health risks, ease of use and likelihood of acceptance, whereas debit card usage has become less costly. As a result, consumers have shifted away from cash. Based on unique daily payment diary survey data collected between January 2018 and December 2021 amongst a representative panel of Dutch consumers, we study the shift in payment behaviour and payment preferences during two lockdown periods in the Netherlands in 2020 and 2021. Since the start of the first lockdown the likelihood of debit card usage at the expense of cash has increased by 12 percentage points compared to its trend level. About 60 percent of this shift on top of the autonomous trend persisted several months after the end of the first lockdown and part of it has persisted several months after the end of the second lockdown. The results indicate that the pandemic accelerated the increased usage of debit card at the POS, especially during the first pandemic year. Also, the pandemic has resulted in a shift in payment preferences towards more contactless payments. Both effects are largest for elderly people.