Discrimination in Consumer Credit Markets

Using household data from the 1983 Survey of Consumer Finances, the hypothesis that there is no discrimination against protected groups in the provision of credit is tested. Using household data avoids the inherent sample selectivity problem of other research based on analyses of applicant data. The authors find that, after controlling for other factors, nonwhites are more likely to be rejected for credit than whites. Also, nonwhites, single parent families, and female heads are more likely to be discouraged from applying for credit. Taken together these results suggest that race is still a factor in the allocation of consumer credit.