Examines the causes of the explosion of consumer credit (consumer creditization) in the U.S. economy. Attributes it to the fallout from factory automation and outsourcing on the ability of the economy to monetize output. Presents the theory of underincome and uses it to examine the rise of consumer credit in general and the various government initiatives aimed at restoring overall purchasing power. These include the Garn-St-Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982 and the Secondary Mortgage Market Enhancement Act of 1984. Concludes by examining various alternative exchange technologies.