One might expect to find a connection between borrowers' FICO scores and the incidence of default and foreclosure during the current crisis. The data don't show such a cause and effect, however.
Fed Economist Yuliya Demyanyk examines possible solutions to the subprime mess, and how the federal government’s proposal doesn’t go quite far enough.
Once banking markets were opened up to geographic diversity and competition, more banks were in a better position to lend money to small businesses—even in tough times.
States that have adopted laws against such lending had higher than average levels of income inequality over the past 10 years than did states that didn't pass such laws.