High Interest Rates for Loans in Chambar

Analyzing Loan Applicant Risk

A bank offers a personal loan to two different individuals. Applicant A has a stable, well-documented income and a long history of repaying debts on time. Applicant B has a variable income from freelance work and a limited credit history. The bank offers Applicant A a loan with a 5% interest rate and Applicant B a loan with a 12% interest rate. Which economic principle best explains this difference in offered rates?

Rationale for Differentiated Interest Rates

Match each borrower profile with the most likely interest rate category they would be offered by a lender, based on the lender's assessment of risk.

A lender's primary goal is to maximize profit. Therefore, a lender would prefer to issue a loan to a high-risk borrower over a low-risk borrower, because the higher interest rate charged to the high-risk borrower guarantees a greater return.

Explaining Interest Rate Differentials

If a lender had perfect and complete information about every potential borrower's ability and willingness to repay a loan, the interest rates charged to all approved borrowers would likely be identical.

A government proposes a new law that requires all banks to offer the same, single interest rate to every individual who qualifies for a personal loan, regardless of their income, credit history, or employment stability. The stated goal is to create a 'fairer' credit market. From a lender's perspective, what is the most probable consequence of this law?

Evaluating Fairness in Differentiated Interest Rates

Analyzing Components of Borrower Risk