Publication Type

Working Paper

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

8-2015

Abstract

We study how signaling affects equilibrium outcomes and welfare in markets with adverse selection. Using data from an online credit market, we estimate a model of borrowers and lenders where low reserve interest rates can signal low default risk. Comparing a market with and without signaling relative to the benchmark case with no asymmetric information, we find that adverse selection destroys as much as 16% of total surplus, up to 95% of which can be restored with signaling. We also find the credit supply curves to be backward-bending for some markets, consistent with the prediction of Stiglitz and Weiss (1981).

Keywords

Signaling, Adverse Selection, Credit Markets, Structural Model

Discipline

Economics | Finance

Research Areas

Macroeconomics

First Page

1

Last Page

54

Additional URL

https://ssrn.com/abstract=2188693

Included in

Finance Commons

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