We measure the effect of an anti-predatory pilot program (Chicago, 2006) on mortgage default rates to test whether predatory lending was a key element in fueling the subprime crisis. Under the program, risky borrowers and/or risky mortgage contracts triggered review sessions by housing...

We measure the effect of an anti-predatory pilot program (Chicago, 2006) on mortgage default rates to test whether predatory lending was a key element in fueling the subprime crisis. Under the program, risky borrowers and/or risky mortgage contracts triggered review sessions by housing...

This book chapter explores how the three largest rating agencies, Standard & Poor's, Moody's Investor Service and Fitch Ratings, exploited their privileged regulatory status to profit from the booming subprime mortgage market at the expense of homeowners. These rating agencies boosted their own...

A recent dramatic rise in subprime foreclosures has led to calls for restrictions against a range of loan features loosely termed “predatory.” Several cities and states have enacted regulations to curb predatory practices, and some advocacy groups endorse action at the federal level. Using...

The economic destruction of the foreclosure crisis and the Great Recession included not only the 4.5 million families who lost their homes and 8 million workers who lost their jobs, but the crippling aftereffect of poor credit histories that affected the ability of these consumers to obtain...

We provide new evidence that credit supply shifts contributed to the U.S. subprime mortgage boom and bust. We collect original data on both government and private mortgage insurance premiums from 1999-2016, and document that prior to 2008, premiums did not vary across loans with widely different...