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A Dynamic Theory of Lending Standards

Author

Listed:
  • Michael J. Fishman
  • Jonathan A. Parker
  • Ludwig Straub

Abstract

We analyze a dynamic credit market where banks choose lending standards, modeled as costly effort to screen out bad borrowers. Tighter standards worsen the borrower pool, increasing banks’ incentives to employ tight standards in the future. This dynamic complementarity in lending standards can amplify and prolong downturns, decreasing lending and increasing credit spreads. Because lending standards have negative externalities, the market can converge to a steady state with inefficiently tight lending standards. We discuss the role of optimal policy to avoid this outcome as well as the impact of balance sheet costs on lending standards.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael J. Fishman & Jonathan A. Parker & Ludwig Straub, 2020. "A Dynamic Theory of Lending Standards," NBER Working Papers 27610, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:27610
    Note: AP CF EFG ME
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peter DeMarzo & Darrell Duffie, 1999. "A Liquidity-Based Model of Security Design," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 67(1), pages 65-100, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ricci, Lorenzo & Soggia, Giovanni & Trimarchi, Lorenzo, 2023. "The impact of bank lending standards on credit to firms," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    2. Toni Ahnert & Martin Kuncl, 2019. "Loan Insurance, Market Liquidity, and Lending Standards," Staff Working Papers 19-47, Bank of Canada.
    3. Hu, Yunzhi, 2022. "A dynamic theory of bank lending, firm entry, and investment fluctuations," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    4. Farboodi, Maryam & Kondor, Peter, 2023. "Cleansing by tight credit: rational cycles and endogenous lending standards," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 119226, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    5. Ana María Herrera & Raoul Minetti & Matthew Schaffer, 2025. "Financial Liberalization, Credit Market Dynamism, and Allocative Efficiency," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 57(6), pages 1559-1596, September.
    6. Farboodi, Maryam & Kondor, Péter, 2023. "Cleansing by tight credit: Rational cycles and endogenous lending standards," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(1), pages 46-67.
    7. Ewa Wróbel, 2022. "What drives bank lending policy? The evidence from bank lending survey for Poland," NBP Working Papers 352, Narodowy Bank Polski.
    8. Maryam Farboodi & Péter Kondor, 2020. "Rational Sentiments and Economic Cycles," NBER Working Papers 27472, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    9. Toni Ahnert & Martin Kuncl, 2024. "Government Loan Guarantees, Market Liquidity, and Lending Standards," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 70(7), pages 4502-4532, July.
    10. Kirti, Divya, 2025. "Lending standards and output growth," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    11. Robert E. Hall & Marianna Kudlyak, 2022. "Why Has the US Economy Recovered So Consistently from Every Recession in the Past 70 Years?," NBER Macroeconomics Annual, University of Chicago Press, vol. 36(1), pages 1-55.
    12. Hu, Mingya & Zhang, Yongjie & Feng, Xu, 2025. "Real estate price fluctuations and institutional misconduct," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 86(PB).
    13. Hanns Ariho & Benjamin Musiita & Arthur Nuwagaba, 2025. "Monetary Policy Tools and Lending Rates in Uganda: A Quantitative Analysis," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 17(2), pages 68-80.
    14. Hachem, Kinda, 2021. "Inefficiently low screening with Walrasian markets," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 935-948.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • E51 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Money Supply; Credit; Money Multipliers
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages

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