Volume 17, Issue 4 October 2021

Monetary Policy Transmission via Loan Contract Terms in the United States

Abstract

I study monetary transmission via changes in contract terms for C&I loans. I find that nonprice terms tighten and price terms relax following a surprise monetary contraction, consistent with a decrease in loan supply. Adjustments in nonprice terms (maximum line size, covenants, and collateral requirements) are responsible for a statistically significant decrease in GDP of about 0.3 percentage point following a monetary surprise. I also document a lag between the response in bond market credit indicators and the loan contract terms. I interpret this finding as evidence of an important interaction between these two markets.

Authors

  • Esteban Argudo

JEL codes

  • E43
  • E44
  • E51
  • E52