Borrow Cost Is a Function of Control, Not Just Scarcity

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Photo by Rohan Makhecha / Unsplash

Interest rates on loans are often presented as a simple result of supply and demand. This formulation ignores a more decisive factor: control.

In many cases, loans are technically available but concentrated. A small number of lenders, departments, or internal books effectively determine pricing. Scarcity matters, but control matters more. When supply is centralized, rates can vary regardless of overall availability.

Understanding who controls credit often explains pricing better than understanding how much credit exists.

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