Analysis of high education loan usage from behavioral economics perspective: A study on Inonu University feas

Chief Office of Higher Education Loans and Dormitories is a public institution established in 1961 with the aim of providing financial assistance and accommodation service to undergraduates and post-graduates. The main activities of this institution are; providing scholarship, education loan, dormitory service and food aid. Beginning with 21st century, with the increase in the number of students, the amount of the support has also increased. The mostly applied activity is the education loan support. However, as the level of loans increased, repayment has become a serious problem for students. This study makes a research for students' decision process about education loans and repayment process with behavioral economics approach. Moreover, possible solutions for problematic points of these processes are suggested within the framework of behavioral economics. This research is done over two different groups. First group includes 1st and 2nd year undergraduate students of Inonu University FEAS (Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences) and the second group consists of graduates from Inonu University FEAS. Two separate surveys were conducted on these two groups. After the results of the surveys were examined, it was observed that students who takes education loans do not behave rationally, do not have full knowledge and needs to be nudged. Keywords: Higher Education Loan, Behavioral Economics, Bounded Rationality, Nudge