Discrimination in Financial Services

Equal treatment in access to credit has long been a fundamental social goal in the United States. However, despite the passage of several laws in the US prohibiting discrimination in the provision of financial services on the basis of race, gender, and marital status, among other factors, questions concerning the existence of racial discrimination in such areas as home mortgage loans and small business credit continue, and confound public policy makers. This text is composed of nine articles and a panel discussion, originally published as a special issue of the "Journal of Financial Services Research". These contributions explore the complex issue of discrimination in financial services.