Latest documents http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/index/index/ Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:22:21 +0200 Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:22:21 +0200 http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/29653 Debt-induced crises, including the subprime, are usually attributed exclusively to supply-side factors. We uncover an additional factor contributing to debt culture, namely social influences emanating from the perceived average income of peers. Using unique information from a representative household survey of the Dutch population that circumvents the need to define the social circle, we consider collateralized, consumer, and informal loans. We find robust social effects on borrowing – especially among those who consider themselves poorer than their peers – and on indebtedness, suggesting a link to financial distress. We check the robustness of our results using several approaches to rule out spurious associations and handle correlated effects. Dimitris Georgarakos; Michael Haliassos; Giacomo Pasini workingpaper http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/29653 Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:22:21 +0200 http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/24086 Debt-induced crises, including the subprime, are usually attributed exclusively to supply-side factors. We examine the role of social influences on debt culture, emanating from perceived average income of peers. Utilizing unique information from a household survey representative of the Dutch population, that circumvents the issue of defining the social circle, we consider collateralized, consumer, and informal loans. We find robust social effects on borrowing, especially among those who consider themselves poorer than their peers; and on indebtedness, suggesting a link to financial distress. We employ a number of approaches to rule out spurious associations and to handle correlated effects. Dimitris Georgarakos; Michael Haliassos; Giacomo Pasini workingpaper http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/24086 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:29:07 +0200