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The determinants of household debt: a cross-country analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Massimo Coletta

    (Bank of Italy)

  • Riccardo De Bonis

    (Bank of Italy)

  • Stefano Piermattei

    (Bank of Italy)

Abstract

In most countries household debt increased from the 1990s until the crisis of 2007-2008 before stabilizing due to recession and deleveraging. However, there are national differences in household debt/GDP ratios. This paper studies the determinants of household debt, using a 32-country dataset and taking both demand-side and supply-side factors into account. The econometric exercises, covering the period 1995-2011, yield two main results. First, debt is greater in countries with higher per capita GDP and household wealth. Second, the efficacy of bankruptcy laws is correlated with the level of household debt, while a longer time to resolve insolvencies is associated with lower debt. These two institutional variables are linked to household debt more robustly than is the quality of credit registers.

Suggested Citation

  • Massimo Coletta & Riccardo De Bonis & Stefano Piermattei, 2014. "The determinants of household debt: a cross-country analysis," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 989, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    • Handle: RePEc:bdi:wptemi:td_989_14
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Giuseppe Bertola & Stefan Hochguertel, 2007. "Household Debt and Credit: Economic Issues and Data Problems," Economic Notes, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA, vol. 36(2), pages 115-146, July.
    2. Andrea Brandolini & Silvia Magri & Timothy M. Smeeding, 2010. "Asset-based measurement of poverty," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(2), pages 267-284.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jean-Charles Bricongne & Leonor Coutinho & Alessandro Turrini & Stefan Zeugner, 2020. "Is Private Debt Excessive?," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 31(2), pages 471-512, April.
    2. David Loschiavo, 2021. "Household debt and income inequality: Evidence from Italian survey data," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 67(1), pages 61-103, March.
    3. Chichaibelu, Bezawit Beyene & Waibel, Hermann, 2017. "Explaining differences in rural household debt between Thailand and Vietnam: Economic environment versus household characteristics," TVSEP Working Papers wp-002, Leibniz Universitaet Hannover, Institute for Environmental Economics and World Trade, Project TVSEP.
    4. Enache Calcedonia, 2022. "Macroeconomic Determinants of Household Indebtedness in Romania: An Econometric Approach," Journal of Social and Economic Statistics, Sciendo, vol. 11(1-2), pages 102-117, December.
    5. Massimiliano Affinito & Raffaele Santioni & Luca Tomassetti, 2025. "Inside Household Debt: Disentangling Mortgages and Consumer Credit, and Household and Bank Factors. Evidence from Italy," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 11(2), pages 773-814, July.
    6. Ashley Dunstan & Hayden Skilling, 2015. "Commercial property and financial stability," Reserve Bank of New Zealand Bulletin, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, vol. 78, pages 1-10, March.
    7. Adél Bosch & Matthew Clance & Steven F. Koch, 2022. "Household debt and consumption dynamics A non-developed world view following the financial crisis," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(8), pages 897-917, February.

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    JEL classification:

    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • P5 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Comparative Economic Systems

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