Taking It to the Limit: Effects of Increased Student Loan Availability on Attainment, Earnings, and Financial Well-Being

S-Tier
Journal: American Economic Review
Year: 2023
Volume: 113
Issue: 12
Pages: 3357-3400

Score contribution per author:

1.615 = (α=2.02 / 5 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

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

Abstract

Growing reliance on student loans and repayment difficulties have raised concerns of a student debt crisis in the United States, but little is known about the effects of student borrowing on human capital and long-run financial well-being. We use variation induced by recent expansions in federal loan limits combined with administrative datasets to identify the effects of increased access to student loans on credit-constrained students' educational attainment, earnings, debt, and loan repayment. Increased student loan availability raises student debt and improves degree completion, later-life earnings, and student loan repayment, while having no effect on homeownership or other types of debt.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aecrev:v:113:y:2023:i:12:p:3357-3400
Journal Field
General
Author Count
5
Added to Database
2026-01-24