Endogenous cycles in a Stiglitz-Weiss economy

The literature on financial imperfections and business cycles has focused on propagation mechanisms. In this paper we model a pure reversion mechanism, such that the economy may converge to a two-period equilibrium cycle. This mechanism confirms that financial imperfections may have a dramatic amplification effect. Unlike in some related models, contracts are complete. Indexation is not assumed away. The welfare properties of a possible stabilizing policy are analyzed. The model itself is a dynamic extension of the well-known Stiglitz-Weiss model of lending under moral hazard. Although stylized the model still captures some important features of credit cycles. (C) 1997 Academic Press.