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The Cost of Consumer Collateral: Evidence from Bunching

Author

Listed:
  • Benjamin L. Collier
  • Cameron Ellis
  • Benjamin J. Keys

Abstract

We show that borrowers are highly sensitive to the requirement of posting their homes as collateral. Using administrative loan application and performance data from the U.S. Federal Disaster Loan Program, we exploit a loan amount threshold above which households must post their residence as collateral. One-third of all borrowers select the maximum uncollateralized loan amount, and our bunching estimates suggest that the median borrower is willing to give up 40% of their loan amount to avoid collateral. Exploiting time variation in the loan amount threshold, we find that collateral causally reduces default rates by 35%. Our results help to explain high perceived default costs in the mortgage market, and uniquely quantify the extent to which collateral reduces moral hazard in consumer credit markets.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin L. Collier & Cameron Ellis & Benjamin J. Keys, 2021. "The Cost of Consumer Collateral: Evidence from Bunching," NBER Working Papers 29527, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:29527
    Note: CF PE
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    Cited by:

    1. Jin, Ming & Chen, Fanglin & Chen, Zhongfei, 2023. "Cultural barriers in China's corporate loans," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    2. Slava Mikhed & Sahil Raina & Barry Scholnick & Man Zhang, 2022. "Debtor Fraud in Consumer Debt Renegotiation," Working Papers 22-35, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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