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Contribution Details

Type Journal Article
Scope Discipline-based scholarship
Title Why do households repay their debt in UK during the COVID-19 crisis?
Organization Unit
Authors
  • Emmanuel Mamatzakis
  • Steven Ongena
  • Mike G Tsionas
Item Subtype Original Work
Refereed Yes
Status Published in final form
Language
  • English
Journal Title Journal of Economic Studies
Publisher Emerald Publishing Limited
Geographical Reach international
ISSN 0144-3585
Volume 50
Number 8
Page Range 1789 - 1823
Date 2023
Abstract Text Purpose: In this paper, the authors investigate whether coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) impacts household finances, like household debt repayments in the UK. Design/methodology/approach: This paper employs a vector autoregressive (VAR) model that nests neural networks and uses Mixed Data Sampling (MIDAS) techniques. The authors use data information related to COVID-19, financial markets and household finances. Findings: The authors' results show that household debt repayments' response to the first principal component of COVID-19 shocks is negative, albeit of low magnitude. However, when the authors employ specific COVID-19-related data like vaccines and tests the responses are positive, insinuating the underlying dynamic complexities. Overall, confirmed deaths and hospitalisations negatively affect household debt repayments. The authors also report low persistence in household debt repayments. Generalised impulse response functions (IRFs) confirm the main results. As draconian measures, the lockdowns are eased and the COVID-19 shocks are diminishing, and household financial data converge to the levels prior to the pandemic albeit with some lags. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that examines the impact of the pandemic on household debt repayments. The authors' findings show that policy response in the future should prioritise innovation of new vaccines and testing.
Digital Object Identifier 10.1108/JES-10-2022-0540
Other Identification Number merlin-id:23692
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