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The Review of Economics and Statistics 2024

Trust in Lending

Richard T. Thakor1; Robert C. Merton2

1 University of Minnesota and MIT LFE [email protected] · 2 MIT and NBER [email protected]

Abstract

We develop a theory of trust in lending that distinguishes between reputation and trust. Banks emerge as more trusted lenders than non-banks. We show that trust severs the link between performance and the cost and availability of financing for lenders, but trust can be lost and is difficult to regain. Banks survive an erosion of trust better than non-banks. Banks' trust advantage arises from the lower cost of funding due to insured deposits and an endogenous belief revision channel that complements the effect of the funding cost advantage. The results have novel policy relevance for deposit insurance scope.

DOI
10.1162/rest_a_01508
Pages
1-45
Language
en
Sources
openalex crossref

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