The Political Economy of Financial Regulation: Evidence from U.S. State Usury Laws in the 19th Century

53 Pages Posted: 24 Jan 2007 Last revised: 14 Aug 2022

See all articles by Tobias J. Moskowitz

Tobias J. Moskowitz

AQR Capital; Yale University, Yale SOM; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Efraim Benmelech

Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: January 2007

Abstract

We investigate the causes and consequences of financial regulation by studying the political economy of U.S. state usury laws in the 19th century. We find evidence that usury laws were binding and enforced and that lending activity was affected by rate ceilings. Exploiting the heterogeneity across states and time in regulation, enforcement, and market conditions, we find that regulation tightens when it is less costly and when it coexists with other economic and political restrictions that exclude certain groups. Furthermore, the same determinants of financial regulation that favor one group (and restrict others) are associated with higher (lower) future economic growth rates. The evidence suggests regulation is the outcome of private interests using the coercive power of the state to extract rents from other groups, highlighting the endogeneity of financial development and growth.

Suggested Citation

Moskowitz, Tobias J. and Moskowitz, Tobias J. and Benmelech, Efraim, The Political Economy of Financial Regulation: Evidence from U.S. State Usury Laws in the 19th Century (January 2007). NBER Working Paper No. w12851, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=959128

Tobias J. Moskowitz (Contact Author)

AQR Capital ( email )

Greenwich, CT
United States

Yale University, Yale SOM ( email )

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New Haven, CT CT 06520
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HOME PAGE: http://som.yale.edu/tobias-j-moskowitz

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Efraim Benmelech

Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management ( email )

Evanston, IL 60208
United States

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) ( email )

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

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