
Anti-usury movements
Anti-usury movements advocate against charging excessively high-interest rates on loans, viewing such practices as exploitative and morally wrong. Historically, these movements have aimed to restrict or eliminate interest to promote fairness and social justice, believing that lending should serve society’s needs rather than generate undue profit. They often draw on religious or ethical principles, emphasizing the harm caused by debt bondage and economic inequality. Over time, anti-usury ideas have influenced laws and financial practices, fostering regulations to prevent predatory lending and protect borrowers from excessive interest charges.