The Determinants of Attitudes toward Strategic Default on Mortgages

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Guiso, Luigi; Sapienza, Paola; Zingales, Luigi
• 署名单位: European University Institute; Northwestern University; National Bureau of Economic Research; University of Chicago
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF FINANCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0022-1082
• DOI: 10.1111/jofi.12044
• 发表日期: 2013
• 页码: 1473-1515
• 关键词: bankruptcy; BEHAVIOR

摘要

We use survey data to measure households' propensity to default on mortgages even if they can afford to pay them (strategic default) when the value of the mortgage exceeds the value of the house. The willingness to default increases in both the absolute and the relative size of the home-equity shortfall. Our evidence suggests that this willingness is affected by both pecuniary and non-pecuniary factors, such as views about fairness and morality. We also find that exposure to other people who strategically defaulted increases the propensity to default strategically because it conveys information about the probability of being sued.