Laws restricting the level of interest that could be charged or paid for loans. The intention of such laws was to restrain exploitation of those in need by money-lenders. If the highest permitted interest rate is too low to compensate for inflation and the risk of default or delay in payment, it creates excess demand for loans. This leads to their being rationed, either to borrowers with political pull or simply the safest risks: in either case the least fortunate cannot get loans when they need them.

• utilitarianism
• utility
• utility function
• utility maximization
• utilization, capacity
• vacancy
• value
• value added
• value-added tax
• value index
• value judgement
• value of the physical increase in stocks and work in progress
• value-subtracting industry
• variable
• variable cost
• variable factor proportions
• variance
• variation
• variety
• VAT
• VAT registration
• VAT return
• vector
• vehicle currency
• velocity of circulation