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  • P-ISSN 2586-2995
  • E-ISSN 2586-4130
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KDI Journal of Economic Policy. Vol. 44, No. 3, August 2022, pp. 1-26

https://doi.org/10.23895/kdijep.2022.44.3.1

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The Effects of Lowering the Statutory Maximum Interest Rate on Non-bank Credit Loans†

MEEROO KIM

Author & Article History

Manuscript received 21 July 2022; revision received 28 July 2022; accepted 17 August 2022.

Abstract

This paper analyzes the effects of the cut in the legal maximum interest rate (from 27.4% to 24%) that occurred in February of 2018 on loan interest rates, the default rates, and the loan approval rate of borrowers in the non-banking sector. We use the difference-in-difference identification strategy to estimate the effect of the cut in the legal maximum interest rate using micro-level data from a major credit-rating company. The legal maximum rate cut significantly lowers the loan interest rate and default rate of low-credit borrowers (i.e., high-credit-risk borrowers) in the non-banking sector. However, this effect is limited to borrowers who have not been excluded from the market despite the legal maximum interest rate cut. The loan approval rate of low-credit borrowers decreased significantly after the legal maximum interest rate cut. Meanwhile, the loan approval rate of high-credit and medium-credit (i.e., low credit risk and medium credit risk) borrowers increased. This implies that financial institutions in the non-banking sector should reduce the loan supply to low-credit borrowers who are no longer profitable while increasing the loan supply to high- and medium-credit borrowers.

Keywords

Statutory Maximum Interest Rate, Household Loan, Market Exclusion, Non-banking Sector

JEL Code

G23, G28, G51

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