While there is a sizeable body of literature which points to racial discrimination in the mortgage lending market, few studies have examined racial discrimination in home improvement lending. Using data made available through the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, this study is concerned with determining if areas with a large proportion minority, in this case, blacks, are being systematically denied home improvement loans by the major lending institutions of Memphis, Tennessee. the findings presented here provide mixed support for the argument that racial discrimination in the home lending market also includes home improvement loans. The implications of these findings are discussed.
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