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Measuring bias in consumer lending

Author

Listed:
  • Dobbie, Will
  • Liberman, Andres
  • Paravisini, Daniel
  • Pathania, Vikram S.
Abstract
This article tests for bias in consumer lending using administrative data from a high-cost lender in the U.K. We motivate our analysis using a new principal-agent model of bias where loan examiners are incentivized to maximize a short-term outcome, not long-term profits, leading to bias against illiquid applicants at the margin of loan decisions. We identify the profitability of marginal applicants using the quasi-random assignment of loan examiners, finding significant bias against immigrant and older applicants when using the firm’s preferred measure of long-run profits but not when using the short-run measure used to evaluate examiner performance. In this case, market incentives based on characteristics that vary across groups lead to inefficient group-based bias.

Suggested Citation

  • Dobbie, Will & Liberman, Andres & Paravisini, Daniel & Pathania, Vikram S., 2021. "Measuring bias in consumer lending," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 104984, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:104984
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    discrimination; consumer credit;

    JEL classification:

    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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