Bias and the Subprime Mortgage Crisis: What to take?

Data Ethics
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The Oxford dictionary defines bias as “prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair”. Should there have been a prejudice against less-credit-worthy home buyers during the housing bubble that led to the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008?

One of the reasons suggested by experts like Mark Zandi to explain the subprime mortgage crisis, was that the percentage of lower-quality subprime mortgages originated during a given year rose from the historical 8% or lower range to approximately 20% from 2004 to 2006, with much higher ratios in some parts of the U.S. The exponential increase in lower-quality subprime mortgages was part of a broader trend of lowered lending standards and higher-risk mortgage products, which contributed to U.S. households becoming increasingly indebted.

Some news reports assert that some people without a job or even a physical address were given those subprime mortgages.

We can clearly see here that credit-worthy and less-credit-worthy folks who shouldn’t have gotten those mortgages were put in the same basket and given these subprime mortgages.

These folks who shouldn’t have gotten those mortgages could be found in all demographics, meaning whites, blacks, Hispanics and others.

Today, to avoid repeating the same mistakes that led to the 2008 financial crisis, banks are extremely careful about who to lend to. The problem here is that one group, blacks are disproportionately victims of the newfound attitude of banks. The worst part is that black entrepreneurs who are credit-worthy and satisfy all other requirements from banks are still denied loans to launch or expand their businesses in comparison with white entrepreneurs.

The issue is so acute that one-time presidential candidate, Senator Kamala Harris has proposed during her campaign to pour billions into black businesses. “I’ll put $12 billion into federal grants for black entrepreneurs and expand access to capital through federal contracting programs,” said the California Senator.

In light of this case, should we understand that some form of bias or “prejudice against” in this case, less-credit-worthy home buyers could have been a “positive” thing?

In other words, when does some “prejudice against” is acceptable? That was the meaning of my question tonight in class. I might not have expressed myself very well. Your feedback is appreciated. Thanks. John Adu.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subprime_mortgage_crisis.

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This is a really interesting question and raises further issues.

  1. Where do we draw the line between prejudice and eligibility criteria?
  2. What is the duty to the public in different industry sectors (if there is one)?
  3. On whom does the onus lie to avoid harm?
  4. What recourse or appeal exist for victims of either bias or harm?

1 - One of this week’s articles touched upon this topic a bit when it tried to determine what constituted a quality lead. I think we have the same problem with the mortgage crisis and other areas of banking. How do you determine who is more or less creditworthy? How do you make this determination when so much bias is historically built into existing measures? Credit scores tend to exclude those who don’t use credit (people who pay cash/debit), stay at home moms, immigrants, and many POCs. Income is similarly problematic since so much discrimination happens in hiring and because women and POCs are often paid less than white men despite doing the same or similar work. Assets has the same problematic history since the biggest asset many people have is their home and homebuying has been plagued with discriminatory practices. Late payments & collections is an option but again is often the result of the inability of certain groups to access credit. So how does one measure creditworthiness for purposes of mortgages or other loans? At a basic level you can look at income compared to monthly mortgage cost to determine how much home they can afford but that can also exclude a lot of factors.

2 - Does the banking/finance industry have a duty to avoid harming the public that extends beyond mere compliance with existing laws? It’s sort of interesting that the finance industry has fiduciaries who have a duty to consumers and non-fiduciaries. You compare it to other industries and in medicine, law, and certain other industries there is a very distinct duty to the public, ethics boards, and ethics coursework is mandatory on a regular basis. It’s strange that there isn’t a blanket duty to the public in finance to act in the best interest of the public.

3 - Where does the onus lie? Is it the responsibility of the banks to protect borrowers from themselves or does the responsibility lie with borrowers who know what they can and cannot afford? This is a bit problematic too since so many people don’t receive basic education in personal finance and the terms of fine print can be unclear. Should we provide more education? Should we make loan terms more visible and easy to understand? This is the same sort of issue that arises with frauds and scams that people fall victim to. Where is the intersection of moral duty on one side and common sense on the other?

4 - What recourse do people have if they feel they are rejected from a mortgage unfairly or if they receive a mortgage with subprime conditions then end up bankrupt and or homeless? This is another area where it’s interesting to look at other industries. In fields where people are licensed (doctors, lawyers, contractors, teachers, etc.) there are licensing boards and disciplinary committees that you can file complaints with to demand justice or help. Banking/finance doesn’t have that clear connection. There’s the FTC but if a law wasn’t broken you’re hard pressed to get results partly because banking/finance doesn’t have the clear moral duties and ethical guidelines that other industries have with corresponding violations penalties

That doesn’t really answer your questions but does provide more perspective on things to consider.

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Thanks for sharing more @jadu. And that breakdown of related issues is very helpful @glbraden!

I would just add a few thoughts:

  • “In 2006, at the height of the boom, black and Hispanic families making more than $200,000 a year were more likely on average to be given a subprime loan than a white family making less than $30,000 a year.” (The Dramatic Racial Bias of Subprime Lending During the Housing Boom) There is evidence of racial bias in the housing crash, beyond what can be accounted for with the racial income & wealth gaps.

  • The example of Kamala Harris’s plan to invest in Black businesses is helpful (in that is a more direct proposed solution than altering criteria for existing loans), and illustrates how often the problems we see in a particular algorithmic application are symptoms of much deeper systemic issues (which would benefit from more systemic solutions). I think Anna’s Q2 and 3 are relevant to many different sectors/applications.

  • There is a broader question of when is a product bad/predatory enough to be worse than having no options? which is similar to what Anna is asking in Qs 2 or 3. (In such cases, I believe regulation should prevent predatory services from being offered). This issue shows up with pay day loans as well.

  • The purpose of machine learning is often to discriminate between classes/groups. Here, discriminate is used to mean distinguish between, not in the sense of illegal or unjust discrimination, but I do think there is a question of when putting people into categories can be harmful/ which distinctions are acceptable.

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Thank you all for the replies. I learned a lot from you guys. Here is an article from the New York Times about predictive algorithms that might interest you: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/06/technology/predictive-algorithms-crime.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage . Thanks.

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Apologies for bringing up an older thread, but I stumbled upon it while searching for similar information. The subprime mortgage crisis was indeed a complex issue with various factors at play. It’s crucial to acknowledge the impact of bias or prejudice, especially when it comes to lending practices. While it’s essential to learn from past mistakes, it’s equally important to find a balance. We should strive for fair and responsible lending practices that consider creditworthiness while also avoiding discrimination based on race or ethnicity. If you’re looking for information or assistance regarding loans and mortgages, you might want to check out Mortgage Broker in Ipswich. They’ve been quite helpful in providing guidance and support in financial matters.

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It’s definitely important for banks to be cautious after the subprime mortgage crisis. But it’s a bummer that certain groups, like black entrepreneurs, are having a harder time getting loans. Senator Kamala Harris has a proposal to help out black businesses with federal grants and better access to capital, which sounds promising.

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It’s all about finding a balance between avoiding bias and giving everyone a fair shot. And let’s not forget about reaching out to experts like a Mortgage Broker in Birkenhead. It always makes sense when you want clear things out.