We find a positive relation between the amount of pension deficits and the cost of bank loans. The effect of pension deficits on the costs of bank loans is driven by financial constraints, information asymmetry problems, and higher pension investment risk. Banks tighten lending terms for firms...

How monetary policy affects the economy is a central topic of debate in macroeconomics. The bank lending channel is one approach that emphasises the role of banks. Banks are important because of asymmetric information in the financial market. Banks are assumed to be better at handling...