본문 내용으로 건더뛰기

KDI 경제교육·정보센터

ENG
  • 경제배움
  • Economic

    Information

    and Education

    Center

전망·동향
Learning How To Borrow in a Fintech World: Consumer Behavior When Search Costs Are (Near) Zero
NBER
2026.05.20
Online loan marketplaces are changing consumer lending. Here we investigate consumer behavior in these markets with near-zero search costs. Using administrative data on 730,000 applications, 750,000 offers, and 200,000 individuals, together with credit registry records, we document four facts. First, substantial within-applicant dispersion in offered terms makes search highly valuable. Second, marketplace nudges mitigate choice complexity. Third, applicants search significantly, applying repeatedly, asking for different terms, and rejecting offers, in ways consistent with their creditworthiness. Fourth, dynamic adverse selection constrains search, as lenders penalize repeat applicants. Our findings highlight trade-offs between informational gains from search, and reputational and cognitive costs.