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Characteristics of Household Debt in Austria

Author

Listed:
  • Christian Beer

    (Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration)

  • Martin Schürz

    (Oesterreichische Nationalbank, Economic Analysis Division)

Abstract

The level of household debt has risen in many countries, including Austria. This study examines whether the increased level of debt represents a risk to financial stability. The data used are mainly derived from a survey on households’ financial wealth conducted by the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB). Analysis shows that high-income households tend to have more debt than low-income households; the latter, however, are more burdened by their debt. Demand for consumer loans tends to be highest among high-income households with little financial assets. As high debt levels are mostly concentrated among affluent and high-income households, household debt in Austria does not constitute a threat to financial stability. Borrowers with lower incomes and/or low levels of wealth are particularly vulnerable borrowers.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Beer & Martin Schürz, 2007. "Characteristics of Household Debt in Austria," Monetary Policy & the Economy, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank), issue 2, pages 58-79.
    • Handle: RePEc:onb:oenbmp:y:2007:i:2:b:3
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Orla May & Merxe Tudela, 2005. "When is mortgage indebtedness a financial burden to British households? A dynamic probit approach," Bank of England working papers 277, Bank of England.
    2. Nathalie Girouard & Mike Kennedy & Christophe André, 2006. "Has the Rise in Debt Made Households More Vulnerable?," OECD Economics Department Working Papers 535, OECD Publishing.
    3. Silvia Magri, 2002. "Italian households' debt: determinants of demand and supply," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 454, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nora Azureen Abdul Rahman & Zunarni Kosim & Siew Goh Yeok, 2018. "The Characteristics of Household Loans in Conventional and Islamic Banks in Malaysia," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 8(7), pages 531-541, July.
    2. Beata Swiecka, 2016. "Assessment of the Financial Situation of the Elderly in Poland, with Particular Emphasis on Wealth and Debt (Ocena sytuacji finansowej osob starszych w Polsce ze szczegolnym uwzglednieniem zasobnosci ," Problemy Zarzadzania, University of Warsaw, Faculty of Management, vol. 14(59), pages 118-134.
    3. Hafizah Hammad Ahmad Khan & Hussin Abdullah & Shamzaeffa Samsudin, 2016. "Modelling the Determinants of Malaysian Household Debt," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 6(4), pages 1468-1473.
    4. Pirmin Fessler & Martin Schürz & Karin Wagner & Beat Weber, 2007. "Financial Capability of Austrian Households," Monetary Policy & the Economy, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank), issue 3, pages 50-67.
    5. Lim, Sung Soo & Bone, Matthew, 2022. "Optimism, debt accumulation, and business growth," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    6. International Monetary Fund, 2011. "United Kingdom: Selected Issues Paper," IMF Staff Country Reports 2011/221, International Monetary Fund.
    7. Carmela Aurora Attin� & Francesco Franceschi & Valentina Michelangeli, 2019. "Modelling households� financial vulnerability with consumer credit and mortgage renegotiations," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 531, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    household debt; borrowing; overindebtedness;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making

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