Signaling in Online Credit Markets
57 Pages Posted: 20 Sep 2021 Last revised: 21 Jun 2024
There are 2 versions of this paper
Signaling in Online Credit Markets
Date Written: September 2021
Abstract
We study how signaling affects equilibrium outcomes and welfare in an online credit market using detailed data on loan characteristics and borrower repayment. We build and estimate an equilibrium model in which a borrower may signal her default risk through the reserve interest rate. Comparing a market with and without signaling relative to the benchmark with no asymmetric information, we find that adverse selection destroys as much as 34% of total surplus, up to 78% of which can be restored with signaling. We also estimate backward-bending supply curves for some markets, consistent with the prediction of Stiglitz & Weiss (1981).
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation