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Policy Intervention in Debt Renegotiation: Evidence from the Home Affordable Modification Program

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  • Agarwal, Sumit
  • Amromin, Gene
  • Ben-David, Itzhak
  • Chomsisengphat, Souphala
  • Piskorski, Tomas
  • Seru, Amit

    (Stanford University)

Abstract

We evaluate the effects of the 2009 Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) that provided intermediaries with sizeable financial incentives to renegotiate mortgages. HAMP increased intensity of renegotiations and prevented substantial number of foreclosures but reached just one-third of its targeted indebted households. This shortfall was in large part due to low renegotiation intensity of a few large intermediaries and was driven by intermediary-specific factors. Exploiting regional variation in the intensity of program implementation by intermediaries suggests that the program was associated with lower rate of foreclosures, consumer debt delinquencies, house price declines, and an increase in durable spending.

Suggested Citation

  • Agarwal, Sumit & Amromin, Gene & Ben-David, Itzhak & Chomsisengphat, Souphala & Piskorski, Tomas & Seru, Amit, 2016. "Policy Intervention in Debt Renegotiation: Evidence from the Home Affordable Modification Program," Research Papers 3459, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecl:stabus:3459
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E60 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - General
    • E65 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Studies of Particular Policy Episodes
    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • H3 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents

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