Information regulation in consumer credit markets– determinants of financial information oversupply

Abstract

Financial information regulation forms an integral part of consumer financial markets, while market efficiency provides a measure of the aptness of any financial regulatory architecture. There has been a noticeable shift in paradigm in financial information regulation globally. Many governments are demanding increased financial information disclosures from financial institutions to investors and borrowers. To the extent that the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) has been attributed to a lax financial regulatory regime, there has been an increased propensity for control and disclosure. This stance has gained impetus despite evidence suggesting that increased financial information disclosures breed information oversupply. Information oversupply adversely effects individuals’ rationalisation and financial decision-making processes, a matter which impedes on the overall market efficiency. Despite the proliferation of financial information oversupply in consumer financial markets, this phenomenon has remained relatively unexplored. This paper contributes to the literature by conducting an empirical exploration of the determinants of financial information oversupply emanating from the prevailing information regulatory regime. A model incorporating both the psychological and cost/benefit theoretical streams is proposed and tested using data collected from Melbourne residents in Australia. The Cost of Information Search and Prior Memory Structure were found to significantly influence the dependent variable, while the dependent variable did not significantly relate to Credit Experience and Age. The implications of the study are discussed and areas for further research suggested.