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The Effect of Principal Reduction on Household Distress: Evidence from Mortgage Cramdown

Author

Listed:
  • Jacelly C. Cespedes
  • Carlos R. Parra
  • Clemens Sialm

Abstract

Mortgage cramdown enabled bankruptcy judges to discharge the underwater portion of a mortgage during Chapter 13 bankruptcy before the Supreme Court disallowed this practice in 1993. We exploit the random assignment of cases to judges to quantify the ex-post effects of Chapter 13 bankruptcy over the period from 1989 to 1993. We find that a successful Chapter 13 filing in a cramdown court substantially decreases the five-year foreclosure rate, the propensity to move, and the crime rate. Our results suggest that principal write-down considerably reduces homeowner’s distress.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacelly C. Cespedes & Carlos R. Parra & Clemens Sialm, 2021. "The Effect of Principal Reduction on Household Distress: Evidence from Mortgage Cramdown," NBER Working Papers 28900, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:28900
    Note: AP CF PE
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    Cited by:

    1. Soyoung Lee, 2023. "The Macroeconomic Effects of Debt Relief Policies During Recessions," Staff Working Papers 23-48, Bank of Canada.
    2. Namhyun Kim & Sanha Noh, 2022. "Effects of Bad Debt Adjustment on Repayment: Evidence from the KR&C Data Set in South Korea," Korean Economic Review, Korean Economic Association, vol. 38, pages 509-539.
    3. de Bruijn, Ernst-Jan & Vethaak, Heike & Koning, Pierre & Knoef, Marike, 2023. "Debt Relief for the Financially Vulnerable: Impact on Employment, Welfare Receipt, and Mental Health," IZA Discussion Papers 16336, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G41 - Financial Economics - - Behavioral Finance - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making in Financial Markets
    • G51 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Household Savings, Borrowing, Debt, and Wealth
    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household
    • H73 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Interjurisdictional Differentials and Their Effects
    • K25 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Real Estate Law
    • K35 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Personal Bankruptcy Law

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