The Dynamics of Work and Debt

28 Pages Posted: 4 Jan 2004 Last revised: 17 Nov 2022

See all articles by Jeffrey R. Campbell

Jeffrey R. Campbell

University of Notre Dame; Tilburg University

Zvi Hercowitz

Tel Aviv University - Eitan Berglas School of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Date Written: January 2004

Abstract

This paper characterizes the labor supply and borrowing of a household facing collateral requirements that limit its debt and compel it to accumulate equity in its durable goods stock. The household's discount rate exceeds the market rate of interest, so it would otherwise finance increased current consumption by borrowing against future wages. Collateral constraints generate a positive comovement between the household's debt, the stock of durable goods and labor supply following wage or interest rate shocks---as the household's labor supply adjusts to finance downpayments on new durable good purchases and the subsequent debt repayment. Increasing the speed of debt repayment amplifies these movements.

Suggested Citation

Campbell, Jeffrey R. and Hercowitz, Zvi, The Dynamics of Work and Debt (January 2004). NBER Working Paper No. w10201, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=483885

Jeffrey R. Campbell (Contact Author)

University of Notre Dame ( email )

United States

Tilburg University ( email )

Tilburg, 5000 LE
Netherlands

Zvi Hercowitz

Tel Aviv University - Eitan Berglas School of Economics ( email )

P.O. Box 39040
Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, 69978
Israel
+972 3 640 9916 (Phone)
+972 3 640 9908 (Fax)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

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