This paper links the current sub-prime mortgage crisis to a decline in lending standards associated with the rapid expansion of this market. We show that lending standards declined more in areas that experienced larger credit booms and house price increases. We also find that the underlying...

After a number of warning signs, the U.S. "subprime mortgage crisis" became a headline issue in February 2007. Notwithstanding the bankruptcy of numerous mortgage companies, historically high delinquencies and foreclosures, and a significant tightening in subprime lending standards, the impact...

We examine changes in lending behavior in response to the Federal Reserve’s requirement for disclosure of loan pricing information implemented in 2004 for two broad types of lenders, depository and nondepository institutions. We find that although subprime approval rates generally increased...