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Debtors' Prisons in America: An Economic Analysis

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  • Mathhew Baker

    (Hunter College, City University of New York)

  • Metin Cosgel

    (University of Connecticut)

  • Thomas J. Miceli

    (University of Connecticut)

Abstract

Debtors' prisons have been commonplace throughout history, including in the United States. While imprisonment for debt no doubt elicited some repayment by benefactors of the debtor, we argue that its primary function was to deter default in the first place by giving borrowers an incentive to disclose hidden assets. Because of its cost, however, imprisonment was destined to be replaced by more efficient ways of preventing borrowers from sheltering assets. Empirical analysis of state laws banning imprisonment for debt provides support for this argument. In particular, the results suggest that states in which the publishing industry developed sooner (thus facilitating the flow of information) were more likely to enact early bans on imprisonment for debt.

Suggested Citation

  • Mathhew Baker & Metin Cosgel & Thomas J. Miceli, 2009. "Debtors' Prisons in America: An Economic Analysis," Working papers 2009-33, University of Connecticut, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:uct:uconnp:2009-33
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Debtors' prison; default; imprisonment;
    All these keywords.

    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
    • K24 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Cyber Law

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