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The expansion of consumer credit in Italy and in the Euro Area: what are the drivers and the risks?

Author

Listed:
  • Silvia Magri

    (Bank of Italy)

  • Valentina Michelangeli

    (Bank of Italy)

  • Sabrina Pastorelli

    (Bank of Italy)

  • Raffaella Pico

    (Bank of Italy)

Abstract

Since 2015 consumer loans have been rising fast in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Credit demand, specifically for consumer durables, has played a crucial role; the easing of supply conditions has been relevant only in Italy and Spain, which experienced stronger credit tightening during the past crises. Risks stemming from the growth of consumer credit are mitigated by its lower incidence, compared with mortgages, on households� total debt and income; exposure to interest rate risk is also decreasing due to the high share of fixed-rate contracts. There is wide risk heterogeneity across countries, with Italy and Spain having the highest share of delinquent households (even for less than 90 days). In Italy, however, debt is increasingly concentrated among more affluent households, which are better able to withstand negative economic shocks; this trend is sustaining the drop in the ratio of new non-performing consumer loans.

Suggested Citation

  • Silvia Magri & Valentina Michelangeli & Sabrina Pastorelli & Raffaella Pico, 2019. "The expansion of consumer credit in Italy and in the Euro Area: what are the drivers and the risks?," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 500, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    • Handle: RePEc:bdi:opques:qef_500_19
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Barbara Cavalletti & Corrado Lagazio & Elena Lagomarsino & Daniela Vandone, 2020. "Consumer Debt and Financial Fragility: Evidence from Italy," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 43(4), pages 747-765, December.
    2. Carmela Aurora Attin� & Francesco Franceschi & Valentina Michelangeli, 2019. "Modelling households� financial vulnerability with consumer credit and mortgage renegotiations," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 531, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    consumer loans; credit demand and supply; non-performing loans;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty

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