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A theory of progressive lending

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  • Dasgupta, Dyotona
  • Mookherjee, Dilip

Abstract

We characterize Pareto efficient long term ‘relational’ lending contracts with one-sided lender commitment in a context where the borrower can accumulate wealth, has intertemporal consumption smoothing preferences, and the lender has some sanctioning power following default. We show the negative results of Bulow and Rogoff (1989) do not apply irrespective of the extent of sanctions, the borrower's preferences for smoothing, initial wealth or relative welfare weight. Borrowing, investment and wealth grow and converge to the first-best. Optimal allocations can be implemented by backloaded ‘progressive’ lending: a sequence of one period loans of growing size.

Suggested Citation

  • Dasgupta, Dyotona & Mookherjee, Dilip, 2023. "A theory of progressive lending," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 211-227.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:gamebe:v:137:y:2023:i:c:p:211-227
    DOI: 10.1016/j.geb.2022.11.005
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Dynamic contracts; Borrowing constraints; Moral hazard; Progressive lending; Microfinance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • D86 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Economics of Contract Law

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