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Eadie, R, Perera, S and Heaney, G (2012) Capturing maturity of ICT applications in construction processes. Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction, 17(02), 176-94.

Famakin, I O, Aje, I O and Ogunsemi, D R (2012) Assessment of success factors for joint venture construction projects in Nigeria. Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction, 17(02), 153-65.

Ramachandra, T and Rotimi, J O B (2012) Liquidation and its effects on construction trade creditors in New Zealand. Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction, 17(02), 166-75.

Tran, H and Carmichael, D G (2012) The likelihood of subcontractor payment: Downstream progression via the owner and contractor. Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction, 17(02), 135-52.

Williams, C C, Nadin, S and Windebank, J (2012) How much for cash?: Tackling the cash-in-hand culture in the European property and construction sector. Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction, 17(02), 123-34.

  • Type: Journal Article
  • Keywords: cash; consumer behaviour; European Union; informal sector; payments; tax evasion; taxation; underground economy ; undeclared work
  • ISBN/ISSN: 1366-4387
  • URL: https://doi.org/10.1108/13664381211246570
  • Abstract:
    Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explain the cash-in-hand consumer culture in the property and construction sector. The conventional assumption has been that consumers using cash-in-hand transactions are rational economic actors doing so simply to save money. Here, this is evaluated critically. Design/methodology/approach - To do this, evidence from a 2007 Eurobarometer survey involving 26,659 face-to-face interviews in 27 European Union member states is reported. Findings - The finding is that saving money is the sole motive of consumers in just 38 per cent of cash-in-hand transactions in the European property and construction sector, one of several rationales in 38 per cent of exchanges and not cited as a rationale in the remaining 24 per cent of cases. Besides, saving money, consumers engage in cash-in-hand transactions to circumvent the shortcomings of formal sector provision in terms of its availability, speed and quality, as well as for social and redistributive rationales. Research limitations/implications - This paper reveals the need for in-depth qualitative research to unravel consumers' complex and heterogeneous rationales for using this sphere. Practical implications - The implication is that changing the cost/benefit ratio confronting consumers when choosing to use the cash-in-hand economy is unlikely to be successful since cost is, in most cases, not their only rationale. Instead, attention needs to be given to improving the availability, speed, reliability and quality of formal sector provision and dealing with cash-in-hand work conducted for social and redistributive purposes. Originality/value - This paper refutes the assumption that goods and services are acquired from the cash-in-hand economy solely in order to save money.