Predictably Unequal? The Effects of Machine Learning on Credit Markets.

AutorA. Fuster, P. Goldsmith-Pinkham, T. Ramadorai, A. Walther
JournalThe Journal of Finance
Datum22. Feb. 2022
KategorieAcademic Publications
Volume77(1)
Seitenzahlen5–47

Innovations in statistical technology, in functions including credit-screening, have raised concerns about distributional impacts across categories such as race. Theoretically, distributional effects of better statistical technology can come from greater flexibility to uncover structural relationships or from triangulation of otherwise excluded characteristics. Using data on U.S. mortgages, we predict default using traditional and machine learning models. We find that Black and Hispanic borrowers are disproportionately less likely to gain from the introduction of machine learning. In a simple equilibrium credit market model, machine learning increases disparity in rates between and within groups, with these changes attributable primarily to greater flexibility.