Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/217022 
Year of Publication: 
2020
Series/Report no.: 
CESifo Working Paper No. 8271
Publisher: 
Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo), Munich
Abstract: 
We propose a simple model of borrower optimism in competitive lending markets with asymmetric information. Borrowers in our model engage in self-deception to arrive at a belief that optimally trades off the anticipatory utility benefits and material costs of optimism. Lenders' contract design shapes these benefits and costs. The model yields three key results. First, the borrower's motivated cognition increases her material welfare, regardless of whether or not she ends up being optimistic in equilibrium. Our model thus helps explain why wishful thinking is not driven out of markets. Second, in line with empirical evidence, a low cost of lending and a booming economy lead to optimism and the widespread collateralization of loans. Third, equilibrium collateral requirements may be inefficiently high.
Subjects: 
optimal expectations
motivated cognition
wishful thinking
financial crisis
lending markets
screening
JEL: 
D86
D82
G33
Document Type: 
Working Paper
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