We develop a theoretical model demonstrating the potential spillover effects associated with the introduction of risky assets. Specifcally, we examine the potential increase in mortgage default risk on prime mortgages that results from the introduction of subprime mortgages in a local area. The...

In this study we report findings about financial literacy and financial planning behavior based on a financial advisory program in India. We evaluate survey responses to three standard questions previously used to measure financial literacy. We then break down the data across particular...

This paper analyzes mortgage lenders' strategy in pricing loans intended for sale to prime market. Using the Single-Family Loan-Level Data set obtained from Freddie Mac, we find evidence that lenders adjust their pricing behavior according to the changing lending environment. In particular,...

While much is known about the characteristics of consumers or businesses that obtain credit lines, relatively little is known empirically about credit line utilization after origination. This study fills that gap by testing two interrelated hypotheses concerning borrower credit quality and...

We use detailed information from U.S. consumers' credit card purchases to provide the first large scale description of the geography of consumption. We find that consumers' mobility is quite limited and document significant heterogeneity in the importance of gravity across sectors. We develop a...

This paper adopts a novel approach to examine the roles of gender difference and intra-household economic power in mortgage signing order. We develop an “economic power” index based on relative economic power within the same-sex couple households. We then use this measure along with gender...

This study uses a unique distance-based priority school allocation rule in Singapore as an identification to test school relocation effects on housing prices in the school zone. Using housing samples during the period from 1999 to 2009, our main results show that private housing prices within...

The recent financial crisis has led to calls for a better understanding of the reasons behind the increase in mortgage defaults and the foreclosures that followed. Previous studies using option-based mortgage default models predicted that borrowers should immediately exercise the default option...

This paper focuses on the potential externalities associated with subprime mortgage origination activity. Specifically, we examine whether negative spillover effects from subprime mortgage originations result in higher default rates in the surrounding area. Our empirical analysis controls for...

Can children effectively nudge their parents to change their energy consumption behavior? This study sets up a quasi-experiment using the “Project Carbon Zero” campaign, an energy-saving contest in Singapore, to empirically test the effectiveness of school children nudges in bringing...