PAWNSHOPS SERVICES AS AN ALTERNATIVE CREDITING SOURCE FOR POPULATION
Classical institution called “pawnshop” appeared in Medieval Europe. However, rapid development of pawnshops was in France in 15 century during the rule of king Louis ХI. The name “pawnshop” appeared in Italy, from the name of the region Lombardy. In Russia during the rule of Anna Ioanovna the decision about loan grant for noblemen and merchant class was accepted at pawning of jewellery made of precious metals. That was the prototype of modern pawnshop. [10] The urgency of consumer loans has not lost its importance now. So, separate levels of the population, whose life style worsened frequently began to pawn valuable things to provide worthy living standard or to solve their financial problems. Considering the increased interest to pawnshops, the research is carried out in the work the purpose of which is to study the specificity of pawnshops activity as an alternative crediting source for individuals. To realize the specified purpose the following problems are put: - to study the essence of pawnshops activity as one of the representatives of micro-financial organizations; - to analyze the results of the survey: “What do you know about pawnshops?”; - to show the advantages and disadvantages of the pawnshops services provided to the population in comparison with bank crediting.