We analyze fintechs and their impact on the traditional financial system from a functional perspective. Following the approach suggested by Merton (1995) [A Functional Perspective of Financial Intermediation, Financial Management 24(2), 23–41], we show how the six core functions of financial...

This paper explores default in the FinTech marketplace lending market using a dataset of both extensive credit and soft information for borrowers from the largest marketplace lender in the United States. I find that both macro and regional economic conditions play a role in consumer default and...

We study the role of privacy-insensitive data on device attributes in identifying loan default, under the context of ongoing tension between privacy protection and credit efficiency. Using a unique applicant-level data from a leading Fintech credit institution in China and merging two basic...

We develop a credit market competition model that distinguishes between the information span (breadth) and signal precision (quality), capturing the emerging trend in fintech/non-bank lending where traditionally subjective ("soft") information becomes more objective and concrete ("hard"). In a...