The Cost of Consumer Collateral: Evidence From Bunching
Benjamin L. Collier,
Cameron M. Ellis and
Benjamin J. Keys
Econometrica, 2025, vol. 93, issue 3, 779-819
Abstract:
How do collateral requirements impact consumer borrowing behavior? Using administrative loan application and performance data from the U.S. Federal Disaster Loan Program, we exploit a loan amount threshold above which households must post their residence as collateral. Our bunching estimates suggest that the median borrower is willing to give up 40% of their loan amount to avoid posting collateral. Exploiting time variation in the threshold, we estimate collateral causally reduces default rates by 36%. Finally, we structurally estimate households' attachment to their homes, net of any equity, and find a median value of $11,000. Attachment creates a wedge between lender and borrower valuation of collateral of 15%. Our results explain high perceived default costs in the mortgage market, and document the importance of collateral for reducing moral hazard in consumer credit markets.
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:
Downloads: (external link)
https://doi.org/10.3982/ECTA22303
Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.
Export reference: BibTeX
RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan)
HTML/Text
Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wly:emetrp:v:93:y:2025:i:3:p:779-819
Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.economet ... ordering-back-issues
Access Statistics for this article
Econometrica is currently edited by Guido W. Imbens
More articles in Econometrica from Econometric Society Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Wiley Content Delivery ().