A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Asymmetric information, bank lending and implicit contracts: differences between banks
Authors: Juha-Pekka Niinimäki
Publication year: 2015
Journal: AUCO Czech Economic Review
Volume: 9
Issue: 2
First page : 88
Last page: 104
eISSN: 1805-9406
This paper studies asymmetric information on banks, relationship lending and switching costs. According to classic theory of relationship banking asymmetric information on borrower types causes an informational lock-in by borrowers: good borrowers are tied to their banks. This paper shows that an informational lock-in effect occurs even if borrowers are identical. Asymmetric information on banks generates an informational lock-in for borrowers. A borrower is tied to the initial bank even if it charges higher loan interest. The borrower is not ready to leave the bank and take a risk that the new bank proves to be even worse.