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How the Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU) impacts FinTech: The implication of P2P lending markets

Author

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  • Zhou, Fuqin
  • Chang, Aichih (Jasmine)
  • Shi, Jim

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of state-level Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU) on FinTech lending marketplace. Leveraging two large-scale Peer-to-Peer (P2P) datasets of LendingClub and Prosper from 2010 to 2019 alongside the news-based EPU index, we unveil a causal relationship between the EPU and both the interest rates and loan amounts. Economically, a one-standard-deviation increase in EPU causes 4.49 and 8.90 basis points change in P2P loan rates, and 1.56% and 1.28% variation in loan amounts, for LendingClub and Prosper, respectively. Furthermore, the national-sourced EPU has a relatively stronger effect on LendingClub, while the state-sourced EPU imposes more impacts on Prosper.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhou, Fuqin & Chang, Aichih (Jasmine) & Shi, Jim, 2024. "How the Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU) impacts FinTech: The implication of P2P lending markets," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:70:y:2024:i:c:s1544612324012972
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2024.106268
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