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Collateral pledge, sunk-cost fallacy and mortgage default

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  • Agarwal, Sumit
  • Green, Richard K.
  • Rosenblatt, Eric
  • Yao, Vincent

Abstract

Individuals and firms pledge collateral to mitigate agency costs or contracting frictions in a world with asymmetric information. However, the option value theory suggests that once the mark-to-market asset valuation is below the current debt, the firms and individuals should default on their debt contract irrespective of the initial collateral pledged. In this paper, we estimate default models and find that after controlling for mark-to-market asset valuation, initial collateral remains an important predictor of mortgage default. Specifically, individuals that pledge higher collateral have a lower hazard to default. Our results are consistent with models of sunk cost fallacy.

Suggested Citation

  • Agarwal, Sumit & Green, Richard K. & Rosenblatt, Eric & Yao, Vincent, 2015. "Collateral pledge, sunk-cost fallacy and mortgage default," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 24(4), pages 636-652.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfinin:v:24:y:2015:i:4:p:636-652
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfi.2014.10.001
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    Cited by:

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    2. Justin Birru & Fernando Chague, Rodrigo De-Losso, Bruno Giovannetti, 2019. "Attention and Biases: Evidence from Tax-Inattentive Investors," Working Papers, Department of Economics 2019_48, University of São Paulo (FEA-USP).
    3. Agarwal, Sumit & Ben-David, Itzhak & Yao, Vincent, 2017. "Systematic mistakes in the mortgage market and lack of financial sophistication," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 123(1), pages 42-58.
    4. Maximilian Zurek, 2022. "Real Estate Markets and Lending: Does Local Growth Fuel Risk?," Journal of Financial Services Research, Springer;Western Finance Association, vol. 62(1), pages 27-59, October.
    5. Hyeongjun Kim & Hoon Cho & Doojin Ryu, 2018. "Characteristics of Mortgage Terminations: an Analysis of a Loan-Level Dataset," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 57(4), pages 647-676, November.
    6. Park, Hyejin & Kahn, Charles M., 2019. "Collateral, rehypothecation, and efficiency," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 34-46.
    7. Martin Hauptfleisch, 2019. "Financial Decision-Making Using Data," PhD Thesis, Finance Discipline Group, UTS Business School, University of Technology, Sydney, number 6-2019.
    8. Uddin, Md Hamid & Akter, Shabiha & Mollah, Sabur & Al Mahi, Masnun, 2022. "Differences in bank and microfinance business models: An analysis of the loan monitoring systems and funding sources," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    9. Agarwal, Sumit & Green, Richard & Rosenblatt, Eric & Yao, Vincent W. & Zhang, Jian, 2018. "Gender difference and intra-household economic power in mortgage signing order," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 86-100.
    10. Kavussanos, Manolis G. & Tsouknidis, Dimitris A., 2016. "Default risk drivers in shipping bank loans," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 71-94.
    11. Mariya Letdin, 2017. "Under the Lender’s Looking Glass," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 55(4), pages 435-456, November.
    12. Zeng, Jing & Wang, Xiongyuan & Xiao, Min, 2019. "The impact of government property right law on collateral loans: A quasi-natural experiment based on the enactment of Chinese property law," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 273-283.

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