Debt Moratoria: Evidence from Student Loan Forbearance

A-Tier
Journal: American Economic Review: Insights
Year: 2024
Volume: 6
Issue: 2
Pages: 196-213

Authors (3)

Michael Dinerstein (not in RePEc) Constantine Yannelis (National Bureau of Economic Re...) Ching-Tse Chen (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

1.341 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

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.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aerins:v:6:y:2024:i:2:p:196-213
Journal Field
General
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-29