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Sources of Inaction in Household Finance: Evidence from the Danish Mortgage Market

Author

Listed:
  • Steffen Andersen
  • John Y. Campbell
  • Kasper Meisner Nielsen
  • Tarun Ramadorai

Abstract

We build an empirical model to decompose delays in mortgage refinancing into time-dependent inaction (a low probability of responding to a refinancing incentive in a given quarter) and state- dependent inaction (a psychological addition to the financial cost of refinancing). We estimate the model on high-quality administrative panel data from Denmark, where mortgage refinancing without cash-out is unconstrained. Middle-aged and wealthy households exhibit state-dependent inaction; but older, poorer, and less-educated households exhibit strong time-dependent inaction and thereby achieve lower savings. We use the model to understand frictions in the mortgage channel of monetary policy transmission.

Suggested Citation

  • Steffen Andersen & John Y. Campbell & Kasper Meisner Nielsen & Tarun Ramadorai, 2015. "Sources of Inaction in Household Finance: Evidence from the Danish Mortgage Market," NBER Working Papers 21386, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:21386
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    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages

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