Affiliation:
1. University of Chicago, Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, NBER, and CESifo (email: )
2. University of Chicago Booth School of Business and NBER (email: )
3. University of Chicago Booth School of Business (email: )
Abstract
We evaluate the effects of the 2020 student debt moratorium. Using administrative credit panel data, we compare borrowers whose loans were frozen to borrowers whose loans were not frozen based on whether the government owned the loans. We estimate that borrowers used the new liquidity to increase borrowing on mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards rather than avoid delinquencies. The effects are concentrated among borrowers without delinquencies, who saw no change in credit scores. The results highlight an important complementarity between liquidity and credit, as liquidity increases the demand for credit even as the supply of credit is fixed. (JEL E32, G21, G51, H81, I22, I23)
Publisher
American Economic Association