The removal of geographic restrictions on banking activities can provide credit to a larger population. Economic hardships, however, can force some of the borrowers to default on their loans and file for bankruptcy to overcome financial distress. Using data aggregated at the US county-level, we...

Fraud and irrationality are often blamed for financial manias and panics. Investor euphoria can unleash social and technological breakthroughs, but the subsequent failures can destroy value and radicalize the political sphere. Are these events random, idiosyncratic, or driven by some force? The...