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Households Debt Restructuring: The Re-default Effects of a Debt Suspension

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  • Henri Fraisse

Abstract

When facing financial distress, French households can file a case to a “households’ over-indebtedness commission” (HDC). The HDC can order an immediate repayment or grant a debt suspension. Exploiting the random assignment of bankruptcy filings to managers, we show that a debt suspension has a very significant and negative effect on the likelihood to re-default but that this impact is only short-lived. The effect depends not only on the characteristics of the households but also on the nature of their indebtedness. Our results imply that rather than focusing on a specific debt profile, above all a deeper restructuring of the expenditure side is necessary to make the plan sustainable in case of an uniform increase of the HDC severity. They also single out specific banks lending to particular fragile households. They indicate the importance of policy actions on budget counseling, as well as the importance of regulation of credit distribution to avoid both entering into bankruptcy and re-filing for bankruptcy.

Suggested Citation

  • Henri Fraisse, 2017. "Households Debt Restructuring: The Re-default Effects of a Debt Suspension," The Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization, Oxford University Press, vol. 33(4), pages 686-717.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jleorg:v:33:y:2017:i:4:p:686-717.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/jleo/ewx011
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    Cited by:

    1. Henri Fraisse & Christophe Hurlin, 2024. "Modèles internes des banques pour le calcul du capital réglementaire (IRB) et intelligence artificielle," Débats Economiques et financiers 44, Banque de France.
    2. Cyril Pouvelle., 2022. "An Analysis of Financial Conglomerate Resilience: A Perspective on bancassurance in France [Une analyse de la résilience des conglomérats financiers : Une perspective sur la bancassurance en France," Débats Economiques et financiers 39, Banque de France.
    3. Eric Chyn & Brigham Frandsen & Emily Leslie, 2025. "Examiner and Judge Designs in Economics: A Practitioner's Guide," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 63(2), pages 401-439, June.
    4. Aurélien Violon & Dominique Durant & Oana Toader, 2018. "The Impact of the Identification of GSIBs on their Business Model," Débats Economiques et financiers 33, Banque de France.
    5. J. Hombert & V. Lyonnet, 2017. "Intergenerational Risk Sharing in Life Insurance: Evidence from France," Débats Economiques et financiers 30, Banque de France.
    6. Monnet, Eric & , & Ungaro, Stefano, 2021. "The Real Effects of Bank Runs. Evidence from the French Great Depression (1930-1931)," CEPR Discussion Papers 16054, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    7. Stéphane Loisel, 2014. "Reevaluation of the capital charge in insurance after a large shock: empirical and theoretical views," Post-Print hal-02013669, HAL.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • K35 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Personal Bankruptcy Law
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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