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Kennesaw State University

A CREDIT ANALYSIS OF THE UNBANKED AND UNDERBANKED: AN ARGUMENT FOR ALTERNATIVE DATA

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>The purpose of this study is to ascertain the statistical and economic significance of non-traditional credit data for individuals who do not have sufficient economic data, collectively known as the unbanked and underbanked. The consequences of not having sufficient economic information often determines whether unbanked and underbanked individuals will receive higher price of credit or be denied entirely. In terms of regulation, there is a strong interest in credit models that will inform policies on how to gradually move sections of the unbanked and underbanked population into the general financial network.</p> <p>In Chapter 2 of the dissertation, I establish the role of non-traditional credit data, known as alternative data, in modeling borrower default behavior for individuals who unbanked and underbanked individuals by taking a statistical approach. Further, using a combined traditional and alternative auto loan data, I am able to make statements about which alternative data variables contribute to borrower default behavior. Additionally, I devise a way to statistically test the goodness of fit metric for some machine learning classification models to ascertain whether the alternative data truly helps in the credit building process.</p> <p>In Chapter 3, I discuss the economic significance of incorporating alternative data in the credit modeling process. Using a maximum utility approach, I show that combining alternative and traditional data yields a higher profit for the lender, rather than using either data alone. Additionally, Chapter 3 advocates for the use of loss functions that aligns with a lender's business objective of making a profit.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Doctor of Philosophy in Analytic and Data Science
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Statistics and Analytical Sciences
Year dc:date.available
2020

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Baidoo, Edwin
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Stefano Mazzotta, PhD
  • Joe DeMaio, PhD
  • Jennifer Priestley, PhD
  • Xiao Huang, PhD

Subjects

dc:subject × 5

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/dataphd_etd/6
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu:dataphd_etd-1005

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Kennesaw State University
Base URL
digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Baidoo, Edwin. A CREDIT ANALYSIS OF THE UNBANKED AND UNDERBANKED: AN ARGUMENT FOR ALTERNATIVE DATA. Dissertation thesis, 2020. https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/dataphd_etd/6