Subprime Lending Data Exploration
Overview
Payday loans are short-term loans geared toward working-class and lower middle-class households that possess access to bank accounts and can prove sustained employment. People may use them and other alternative credit instruments to deal with unexpected expenses or simply to make ends meet between paychecks. While the loans are expensive, they may be one of the only alternatives available to potential borrowers with poor credit history or a lack of credit history.
This study is motivated by a desire to gain a deeper understanding of the people who use alternative credit instruments, such as payday loans. While there is a substantial literature on the dangers of payday loans, there is not enough solid data to explain why people use these instruments, how borrowers perceive them, and what alternatives might be viable. Recent trends are especially in need of further study. For example, some evidence suggests that middle-class individuals are increasingly using payday loans, and little is known about the growing popularity of online payday loans. This project will seek to understand the needs, characteristics, and perceptions of borrowers, as well as how they use these products.
The Subprime Lending Data Exploration Project presents an opportunity to build knowledge about the population that uses payday loans, short-term installment loans, and other subprime lending instruments to make ends meet. This project is analyzing a dataset of mostly online, short-term loans provided by Clarity Services, Inc., a credit reporting agency focused on subprime borrowers and credit reporting activity from alternative financial services. The project will also survey and collect information from focus groups to better understand borrowers’ needs.
Additional Project Details
Agenda, Scope, and Goals
The project is using state-of-the-art ”big data” analysis methods to define groups of borrowers (e.g., one-time users, repeat users, people who are not approved for loans, etc.) that might have different needs and concerns. Once we define subgroups using these methods, we will also use survey and qualitative research to shed light on such questions as:
- Why are people using these products and at what frequency?
- What are the demographic characteristics of each segment of borrowers?
- What alternatives could meet the needs of different segments?
Design, Sites, and Data Sources
This project is analyzing a large database of financial records for people who use online alternative credit providers. From these data, the project will identify different borrower segments of interest. A sample of the borrowers in each of these segments will be approached about answering a survey and possibly participating in a focus group.
Featured Work
Findings from the Subprime Lending Data Exploration Project
