신용회복지원제도를 통한 신용불량자 문제의 해결방안에 관한 법적연구

A Research on the Solution Plan of Credit Crunch through the Credit Recovery Supporting System

경제학적으로 보면 미래의 소득으로 현재의 부채를 상환할 수 있는 개인은 대출을 통해 자신의 현재 소비보다 더 많은 소비를 함으로써 자신의 후생을 높일 수 있게 된다. 그렇기 때문에 무분별한 신용이 아닌 합리적인 신용이 가능하다면 가계신용의 급증은 문제가 아니라 오히려 득이 될 수 있다. 그러나 합리적인 신용이 건실한 경제성장의 기반으로 작용하기 위해서는 금융기관들의 엄격한 신용위험관리가 중요하다. 만일 이러한 정책이 실패한다면 신용불량자는 필연적으로 등장할 수밖에 없게 된다. 신용불량자 문제는 민생 및 거시경제와 밀접한 연관이 있기 때문에 시급히 해결해야 할 문제라고 생각하지만 문제해결 과정에서 시장의 신용시스템의 붕괴와 도덕적 해이의 위험을 경계해야 한다. 또한 일회적인 신용불량자 구제가 아니라 신용불량자 문제의 사전적 예방 및 사후적 처리를 위한 법제인프라의 구축 문제도 고려하여야 한다. 금융기관의 신용평가기법 및 신용정보 공유제도 개선은 신용불량자 증가를 억제하는 단기적인 목표일 뿐만 아니라 금융이 선진화하는 과정에서 반드시 거쳐야할 주요 과제의 하나이다. 이러한 신용평가 기법의 발전과 신용정보 공유의 확대는 우리 금융기관들의 고질적인 병폐로 이야기되는 담보대출관행을 줄이고 신용대출을 활성화하는 효과가 있을 것으로 기대된다. 신용불량자 특성에 걸맞은 다양한 신용회복 지원제도도 장기적으로 소비자금융을 발전시키는데 필요한 금융하부구조의 하나라는 점에 주의할 필요가 있다. 미국의 경우 전국적으로 CCCS라고 하는 1,000여개가 넘는 소비자신용상담서비스(Consumer Credit Counseling Service) 업체가 파산위기에 직면한 사람 가운데 원리금 상환의지가 있는 사람들을 대상으로 부채관리 프로그램을 제공하고 있다. 이러한 제도는 직접적으로는 신용불량자의 신용회복이 주목적이지만 결국 이를 통하여 경제의 활력을 회복하는 역할을 하고 있는 것이다. 본고는 신용불량자 문제의 전개와 대책마련 과정을 설명하고 신용회복지원 제도별 성과분석을 실시 한 후 신용불량자 문제의 해결과정에 대한 법적 평가를 시도하였다.

A credit crunch (a/k/s a credit squeeze or credit crisis) is a reduction in the general availability of loans (or credit) or a sudden tightening of the conditions required to obtain a loan from the banks. The Oxford Dictionary defines it as: ``[a] sudden sharp reduction in the availability of money or credit from banks and other lenders.`` A credit crunch generally involves a reduction in the availability of credit independent of a rise in official interest rates. In such situations, the relationship between credit availability and interest rates has implicitly changed, such that either credit becomes less available at any given official interest rate, or there ceases to be a clear relationship between interest rates and credit availability (i.e., credit rationing occurs). A credit crunch is the opposite, in which interest rates rise and lending practices tighten. Many times, a credit crunch is accompanied by a flight to quality by lenders and investors, as they seek less risky investments (often at the expense of small to medium size enterprises). A credit crunch is often caused by a sustained period of careless and inappropriate lending which results in losses for lending institutions and investors in debt when the loans turn sour and the full extent of bad debts becomes known. The crunch is generally caused by a reduction in the market prices of previously ``overinflated`` assets and refers to the financial crisis that results from the price collapse. Careless lending tends to occur more often in fragmented, competitive credit markets in which lenders may compete with one another for market share and revenue by relaxing standards; by contrast, concentrated credit markets tend to have tighter standards and greater stability. This can result in widespread foreclosure or bankruptcy for those investors and entrepreneurs who came in late to the market, as the prices of previously inflated assets generally drop precipitously. There are a number of reasons why banks might suddenly stop or slow lending activity. For example, inadequate information about the financial condition of borrowers can lead to a boom in lending when financial institutions overestimate credit-worthiness, while the sudden revelation of information suggesting that borrowers are or were less creditworthy can lead to a sudden contraction of credit. Other causes can include an anticipated decline in the value of the collateral used by the banks to secure the loans; an exogenous change in monetary conditions (for example, where the central bank suddenly and unexpectedly raises reserve requirements or imposes new regulatory constraints on lending); the central government imposing direct credit controls on the banking system; or even an increased perception of risk regarding the solvency of other banks within the banking system. Easy credit conditions (sometimes referred to as ``easy money`` or ``loose credit``) are characterized by low interest rates for borrowers and relaxed lending practices by bankers, making it easy to get inexpensive loans. Easy credit conditions means that funds are readily available to borrowers, which results in asset prices rising if the loaned funds used to buy assets in a particular market, such as real estate or stocks. During the upward phase in the credit cycle, asset prices may experience bouts of frenzied competitive, leveraged bidding, inducing inflation in a particular asset market. This can then cause a speculative price bubble to develop. As this upswing in new debt creation also increases the money supply and stimulates economic activity, this also tends to temporarily raise economic growth and employment. Financial institutions may fail, economic growth may slow, unemployment may rise, and social unrest may increase by the credit crunch. The hedge borrower can make debt payments (covering interest and principal) from current cash flows from investments. This borrower is not taking significant risk. However, the next