This paper analyzes the determinants of Italian households’ participation in the debt market, considering both demand and supply effects and using the Bank of Italy’s Survey of Household Income and Wealth. The probability of debt is positively influenced by age (until 35 years), which essentially acts as a demand factor. Among the economic variables, the role of income is important: it shows a positive correlation with the probability of debt, determined by forces acting in the same direction on both sides of the market. The uncertainty of income reduces the demand for loans, with the exception of self-employed workers, who are nevertheless subject to very rigid evaluation by lenders. Living in very small municipalities negatively affects loan demand, probably because of higher entry costs in the debt market. Education influences both the demand side, through entry costs, and banks’ evaluation. Residence is a crucial parameter: beyond the negative impact of a greater economic risk, living in regions where banks face higher enforcement costs increases the probability that the loan demand is not accepted. The final part of the paper considers the size of desired debt, which seems positively linked to net wealth and future income profile. The recovered share of loans in the case of default has a positive effect on desired debt. In general, enforcement costs have increased in importance in the recent period.
Published in 2007 in: Empirical Economics, v. 33, pp. 401 - 426
