Understanding impulse spending behavior in Kazakhstan: the role of digital payment systems

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) usage on impulse spending behavior among consumers in Kazakhstan. As BNPL rapidly becomes more common, there is growing concern that it may lead to an excess of unplanned purchases and long-term financial difficulties. The research aimed to answer whether frequent BNPL use leads to more impulse spending; what kind of psychological factors influence the impulsive decision to buy using BNPL; and whether certain demographic groups are more vulnerable to overusing BNPL. A mixed-methods approach was used. Data was collected through a survey of 140 respondents (with 102 BNPL users). Quantitative data was analyzed using logit models, and thematic analysis was used for qualitative data. The findings show that people who use BNPL more often are more likely to make impulsive purchases. Psychological factors such as ease of access, convenience, misperception of interest, present-biased thinking were identified as key drivers for using BNPL. Demographic factors were not statistically significant in predicting overuse. These results suggest the importance of improving financial literacy and regulating digital credit tools to protect consumers. The study adds to the understanding of how digital payment systems, precisely BNPL, affects consumer behavior and offers ideas for policy and education in digital finance.