Gone are the days when the main way to buy something was to hand a bunch of bills and coins to a seller. That began to change in the 1960s, when paying with plastic—
With so many digital payment options available—from Apple Pay to Zelle—more and more people are making purchases without ever handling cash. That has left many Americans wondering: Could cash be phased out?
Many people say yes. When shopping in person, paying by mobile app or
Many other people, however, point out that cash remains useful. In the U.S., 88 percent of shoppers still use it at least part of the time, particularly for in-person purchases of $10 or less. Even more important, they say, going cashless would cause serious problems for the millions of Americans who don’t have bank accounts or who lack access to digital technology. For them, cash is still the only option.
Should we get rid of cash? Two experts weigh in.