In this article, we use a simple stylized model of collateralized lending to analyze the value proposition and limitations of decentralized finance (DeFi). DeFi uses a decentralized ledger to run smart contracts that automatically enforce the terms of a lending contract and safeguard the...

Significant differences in loan terms between demographically distinct groups of borrowers in the United States are often interpreted as evidence of systematic ethnic, racial or gender discrimination by lenders. The appearance and interpretation of such discrimination has long been a...

This paper examines the sensitivity of investment to cash flow in declining economic conditions, focusing on the impact of a firm's reliance on bank debt. Using the context of Jordan, a developing Middle East and North Africa (MENA) country, the study utilizes the standard Q theory of investment...

Do financial constraints amplify or dampen the transmission of monetary policy to the real economy? To answer this question, we propose a simple empirical strategy that combines (i) firm-level employment and balance sheet data, (ii) identified monetary policy shocks and (iii) survey data on...