Here's a counterintuitive take on credit market regulation. Implementing interest rate caps on credit cards might actually backfire for the vulnerable borrowers these policies aim to protect. When lenders face artificial ceilings on returns, they often tighten lending criteria and reduce credit availability for riskier borrowers—precisely those with limited options. The result? People with weaker credit profiles get locked out entirely, ending up worse off than paying higher rates with actual access to funds. It's a classic case where good intentions clash with market mechanics.