Intergenerational Linkages in Household Credit

Ghent, Andra C.; Kudlyak, Marianna

doi:10.24148/wp2016-31

Working Paper

Intergenerational Linkages in Household Credit

Abstract: We document novel, economically important correlations between children?s future credit risk scores, default, and homeownership status and their parents? credit characteristics measured when the children are in their late teens. A one standard deviation higher parental credit risk score when the child is 19 is associated with a 24 percent reduction in the likelihood that the child goes bankrupt by age 29, a 36 percent lower likelihood of other serious default, a 35 point higher child credit score, and a 23 percent higher chance of the child becoming a homeowner. The linkages persist after controlling for parental income. The linkages are stronger in cities with lower intergenerational income mobility, implying that common factors might drive both. Existing measures of state-level educational policy have limited effects on the strength of the linkages. Evidence from a sample of siblings suggests that the linkages might be largely due to family fixed effects.

JEL Classification: D14; E21; G10;

https://doi.org/10.24148/wp2016-31