How do you pay? The role of incentives at the point-of-sale

This paper uses discrete-choice models to quantify the role of consumer socioeconomic characteristics, payment instrument attributes, and transaction features on the probability of using cash, debit card, or credit card at the point-of-sale. We use the Bank of Canada 2009 Method of Payment Survey, a two-part survey among adult Canadians containing a detailed questionnaire and a three-day shopping diary. We find that cash is still used intensively at low value transactions due to speed, merchant acceptance, and low costs. Debit and credit cards are used more frequently for higher transaction values where safety, record keeping, the ability to delay payment and credit card rewards gain prominence. We present estimates of the elasticity of using a credit card with respect to credit card rewards. Reward elasticities are a key element in understanding the impact of retail payment pricing regulation on consumer payment instrument usage and welfare. JEL Classification: E41, C35, C83credit card rewards, discrete-choice models, Retail payments

BlogForever D5.1: Design and Specification of Case Studies

This document presents the specification and design of six case studies for testing the BlogForever platform implementation process. The report explains the data collection plan where users of the repository will provide usability feedback through questionnaires as well as details of scalability analysis through the creation of specific log files analytics. The case studies will investigate the sustainability of the platform, that it meets potential users’ needs and that is has an important long term impact

How do you pay? The role of incentives at the point-of-sale

This paper uses discrete-choice models to quantify the role of consumer socioeconomic characteristics, payment instrument attributes, and transaction features on the probability of using cash, debit card, or credit card at the point-of-sale. We use the Bank of Canada 2009 Method of Payment Survey, a two-part survey among adult Canadians containing a detailed questionnaire and a three-day shopping diary. We find that cash is still used intensively at low value transactions due to speed, merchant acceptance, and low costs. Debit and credit cards are used more frequently for higher transaction values where safety, record keeping, the ability to delay payment and credit card rewards gain prominence. We present estimates of the elasticity of using a credit card with respect to credit card rewards. Reward elasticities are a key element in understanding the impact of retail payment pricing regulation on consumer payment instrument usage and welfare

BlogForever D5.3: User Questionnaires and Reports

This report presents the feedback gathered from third party users during the BlogForever Case Studies. Therefore, the research framework is defined and the case studies results are presented, followed by a summary of conclusions and remarks

BlogForever D5.2: Implementation of Case Studies

This document presents the internal and external testing results for the BlogForever case studies. The evaluation of the BlogForever implementation process is tabulated under the most relevant themes and aspects obtained within the testing processes. The case studies provide relevant feedback for the sustainability of the platform in terms of potential users’ needs and relevant information on the possible long term impact

Use of Transient Time Response as a Measure to Characterize Phononic Crystal Sensors

Phononic crystals are periodic composite structures with specific resonant features that are gaining popularity in the field as liquid sensors. The introduction of a structural defect in an otherwise periodic regular arrangement can generate a resonant mode, also called defect mode, inside the characteristic band gaps of phononic crystals. The morphology, as well as the frequency in which these defect modes appear, can give useful information on the composition and properties of an analyte. Currently, only gain and frequency measurements are performed using phononic crystal sensors. Other measurements like the transient response have been implemented in resonant sensors such as quartz microbalances showing great results and proving to be a great complimentary measure to the gain and frequency measurements. In the present paper, a study of the feasibility of using the transient response as a measure to acquire additional information about the analyte is presented. Theoretical studies using the transmission line model were realized to show the impact of variations in the concentration of an analyte, in this case, lithium carbonate solutions, in the transient time of the system. Experimental realizations were also performed showing that the proposed measurement scheme presents significant changes in the resulting data, indicating the potential use of this measure in phononic crystal sensors. This proposed measure could be implemented as a stand-alone measure or as a compliment to current sensing modalities

Acoustic spectrometer: Resonant sensing platform for measuring volumetric properties of liquid samples

A sensing platform for measuring volumetric properties of liquid samples using phononic crystals is presented in this paper. The proposed sensor concept is based on the transmission of elastic and acoustic waves through solids and liquids respectively to gather relevant information about the properties of the liquid under test. A major difference between this concept and the majority of current resonant sensors, like the well-known quartz crystal microbalance, is that the acoustic spectrometer proposed measures bulk properties and not interfacial properties of the liquid. The sensing platform uses a disposable analyte container to facilitate the measurement of hazardous substances and enable its use in biomedical applications. An electronic characterization system based on the acquisition of three mixed signals was developed to obtain the frequency response of the designed sensor. Finally, experimental and theoretical realizations were performed, using different analytes and showing characteristic transmission features that can be used as measures to determine the physical value speed of sound

Fully-disposable multilayered phononic crystal liquid sensor with symmetry reduction and a resonant cavity

Phononic crystals are artificial structures with unique capabilities to control the transmission of acoustic waves. These novel periodic composite structures bring new possibilities for developing a fundamentally new sensor principle that combines features of both ultrasonic and resonant sensors. This paper reports the design, fabrication and evaluation of a phononic crystal sensor for biomedical applications, especially for its implementation in point of care testing technologies. The key feature of the sensor system is a fully-disposable multi-layered phononic crystal liquid sensor element with symmetry reduction and a resonant cavity. The phononic crystal structure consists of eleven layers with high acoustic impedance mismatch. A defect mode was utilized in order to generate a well-defined transmission peak inside the bandgap that can be used as a measure. The design of the structures has been optimized with simulations using a transmission line model. Experimental realizations were performed to evaluate the frequency response of the designed sensor using different liquid analytes. The frequency of the characteristic transmission peaks showed to be dependent on the properties of the analytes used in the experiments. Multi-layered phononic crystal sensors can be used in applications, like point of care testing, where the on-line measurement of small liquid samples is required

Cavity Resonance Sensor with Disposable Analyte Container for Point of Care Testing

The use of phononic crystals and resonant structures as sensing platforms paves the way to the development of new biomedical technologies. An acoustic sensor with a resonant cavity and a disposable element was investigated in this paper. The sensor consists of seven layers with high acoustic impedance mismatch. The disposable element used was a glass spectrophotometry cuvette and, during the experimentation, it was filled with different liquid analytes showing characteristic transmission features that could be used as measures to differentiate and identify them. Experimental transmission curves were obtained using an electronic characterization system that uses a double sideband modulation technique to acquire valuable information about the structure being analyzed. Simulations using the 1-D transmission line method were performed to support the experimental realizations. The frequency of maximum transmission has been found to be strongly dependent on the speed of sound of the analyte under test