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Why Shylock Can be Efficient A Theory of Usury Contracts

Year:    2002

Author:    Masciandaro, Donato

Credit and Capital Markets – Kredit und Kapital, Vol. 35 (2002), Iss. 3 : pp. 381–399

Abstract

In this paper we demonstrate the characteristic of usury contracts in respect to bank loan contracts. Traditionally usury is an inefficient result of credit market failures. On the contrary in our dynamic micro model, usury can be more efficient than the bank loan contract because debt renegotiations are more likely to be implemented, given specific features of the illegal usurer technology and an entrepreneur’s decreasing risk aversion. We also show that a high level of interest rate does not represent a necessary or a sufficient condition for the existence of usury contracts. (JEL K40, K42, K14, G18)

Journal Article Details

Publisher Name:    Global Science Press

Language:    Multiple languages

DOI:    https://doi.org/10.3790/ccm.35.3.381

Credit and Capital Markets – Kredit und Kapital, Vol. 35 (2002), Iss. 3 : pp. 381–399

Published online:    2002-03

AMS Subject Headings:    Duncker & Humblot

Copyright:    COPYRIGHT: © Global Science Press

Pages:    19

Author Details

Masciandaro, Donato

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