Rational?

Abstract

In January 2000 it was customary to receive Internet advertisements for new credit opportunities, such as for instance the following: “Credit cards goodies: free information on cards offering rebates, bonuses and other incentives”; “Increase sales up to 150 percent, accept credit cards over the Internet. Good credit, bad credit or no credit, no problem, it just doesn’t matter, everyone gets approved”; “Debt blaster: reduce your credit card and loan debt more effectively”. Such advertisements reflected the development of electronic trade, but if we look at them more closely they can also tell us many things about the prevailing mood of the time.