We examine the closeness of relationships between households and their mortgage lenders using survey data which provide information on the duration, geographical proximity and scope of all bank relationships of a representative sample of households. Our analysis is based on a sample of 470...

We examine how the geographical proximity to a new microfinance bank branch affects the use of bank accounts by low-income households. We study the expansion of the branch network of ProCredit banks in South-East Europe between 2006 and 2010. The analysis is based on household-level survey data...

We examine the firm- and country-level determinants of the currency denomination of small business loans. We first model the choice of loan currency in a framework which features a trade-off between lower cost of debt and the risk of firm-level distress costs, and also examines the impact of...

We examine, from a theoretical and empirical perspective, the determinants of foreign currency borrowing by small firms. Our empirical analysis is based on survey responses from 9,655 firms in 26 transition countries. We find that firms with foreign currency income are more likely to borrow in...

We provide the first systematic empirical analysis of how asymmetric information and competition in the credit market affect voluntary information sharing between lenders. We study an experimental credit market in which information sharing can help lenders to distinguish good borrowers from bad...

We examine the firm- and country-level determinants of the currency denomination of small business loans. We first model the choice of loan currency in a framework which features a trade-off between lower cost of debt and the risk of firm-level distress costs, and also examines the impact of...

We examine the impact of financial sector reform on interest rate levels and spreads using bank-level data from Kyrgyzstan for 1998-2005. We find that besides macroeconomic stabilization, structural reforms to the banking sector have significantly contributed to lowering interest rate levels. In...

This paper examines the impact of credit reporting on the repayment behavior of borrowers. We implement an experimental credit market in which loan repayment is not third-party enforceable. We then compare market outcome with a public credit registry to that without a credit registry. This...

We investigate whether information sharing among banks has affected credit market performance in the transition countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, using a large sample of firm-level data. Our estimates show that information sharing is associated with improved availability...

We provide the first systematic empirical analysis of how asymmetric information and competition in the credit market affect voluntary information sharing between lenders. We study an experimental credit market in which information sharing can help lenders to distinguish good borrowers from bad...