Show-Me Institute Free-Market Field Trip No. 2: Payday Loans

Economy | January 21, 2011

By David Stokes | Read Time 1 minute

In this video, policy analyst David Stokes, accompanied by two research assistants, endeavors to get to the heart of the payday loan debate by … actually getting a payday loan. In many ways, the experience is not what you might expect. In celebration of his success at this questionable financial decision, Stokes compounds his bad behavior by going gambling at the casino with his new money. The axiom “The house always wins” was in no danger of being toppled. Even though money was lost, lessons were learned and nobody was hurt. Filmed on location at Saint Louis–area payday loan stores and casino on April 1, 2010.

About the Author

David Stokes

David Stokes is a St. Louis native and a graduate of Saint Louis University High School and Fairfield (Conn.) University. He spent six years as a political aide at the St. Louis County Council before joining the Show-Me Institute in 2007. Stokes was a policy analyst at the Show-Me Institute from 2007 to 2016. From 2016 through 2020 he was Executive Director of Great Rivers Habitat Alliance, where he led efforts to oppose harmful floodplain developments done with abusive tax subsidies. Stokes rejoined the Institute in early 2021 as the Director of Municipal Policy. He is a past president of the University City Library Board. He served on the St. Louis County 2010 Council Redistricting Commission and was the 2012 representative to the Electoral College from Missouri’s First Congressional District. He lives in University City with his wife and their three children.

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