Information asymmetry in Brazilian credit market of SMEs’ investment loans

Advisor: Leonardo Rezende

This paper investigates the presence of moral hazard and adverse selection in the credit market of investment loans granted to micro, small and medium enterprises in Brazil. Using a novel database of over 15 thousand indirect credit operations from BNDES, we explore BNDES distinct credit granting policy and the horizontal changes over time in the offered credit conditions conditions for identification. The results indicate that moral hazard is a relevant phenomenon and that its effect is partially attenuated by advantageous selection in loans with subsidized interest rates.