Political instability and non-price loan terms in Lima, Peru: Evidence from notarized contracts

This article analyzes the effects of political instability on the provision of credit in 1835-1865, paying special attention to non-price loan terms. By relying on a sample of more than 1,700 notarized records, the article shows that political instability had an important effect on the amount and length of loans. As Peru became politically more stable after the mid-1840s, private lenders made larger loans with longer maturities. Medium-term credit among approved loans was more frequent after political stabilization. Long-term credit, however, was not common during this period.