Certificates are widely used as a signaling mechanism to mitigate adverse selection when information is asymmetric. To reduce information asymmetry between lenders and borrowers, Chinese peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms encourage borrowers to obtain various kinds of credit certificates. As...

Motivated by a debate on the effect of debt on firms' product market performance, I examine the effect of lines of credit on firms' future profits. Consistent with the notion that lines of credit provide firms with unique financial flexibility and enhance their strategic position within the...

Certifications are an important signaling device for attenuating information asymmetry. This study examines their role on a Chinese online marketplace lending platform, which grants certifications to borrowers after they submit the necessary documents. Although the platform verifies the...