Lawmakers have long resisted stronger consumer protection laws because they fear such laws would restrict access to credit, and less access to credit means less consumer spending — which is bad for a consumption-driven economy. “Access to credit” has likewise become a popular mantra among many lawmakers, fintech firms and even some consumer advocates, who think accessing credit will solve more problems than it creates. “The majority of policies obfuscate the role of government in consumer credit regulation, thus privatizing the use of credit for most borrowers,” SoRelle writes.