By compiling a novel data set from bankruptcy court dockets recorded in Delaware between 2001 and 2002, the authors … build and estimate a structural model of Chapter 13 bankruptcy. This allows them to quantify how key debtor characteristics …, including whether they are experiencing bankruptcy for the first time, their past-due secured debt at the time of filing, and …

Because of the recent surge in U.S. personal defaults, Congress is currently debating bankruptcy reform legislation … previous work, bankruptcy options and production are explicitly taken into account. The authors' findings indicate that means … testing would not improve upon current bankruptcy provisions and, at best, leaves aggregate filings, output, and welfare …