Flagship initiative
A first-of-its-kind policy playbook that systematically maps, catalogues, and analyzes the full U.S. federal credit enhancement toolkit. The Federal Credit Lab equips policymakers to channel private investment on behalf of the public interest using the full range of credit allocation techniques Congress has built over two centuries of American market development.
Federal Credit Lab at a glance
What it is
Demystifying federal credit’s role in building American markets.
The full faith and credit of the United States is among the most powerful forces in global financial markets and a core driver of the economic experience of American individuals and families. Yet federal credit policy is routinely under-investigated by academics, think tanks, policymakers, and financial market participants, and credit enhancement is rarely treated as its own discipline of U.S. policymaking.
As a flagship initiative of Lafayette Square Institute, the Federal Credit Lab closes that gap. It builds a comprehensive, first-of-its-kind policy playbook by systematically mapping, cataloguing, analyzing, and making accessible the breadth of the federal credit enhancement portfolio. The result is a taxonomy and toolkit that policymakers, philanthropy, industry, and the general public can use to channel private institutional capital toward the national interest.
Why it matters
A policy playbook for channeling private capital.
Since the founding era, federal credit enhancement programs have played an instrumental role in facilitating access to financing across mortgage markets, infrastructure, agricultural development, and small-business growth. These programs provide guarantees, insurance, and other forms of credit enhancement that mitigate risk for lenders and investors, lowering borrowing costs and expanding the availability of credit.
A bipartisan consensus has emerged in Washington on the need for investment policies that advance the national interest and build economic security for American workers and families. But policymakers and their staff are generally not approaching these problems with capital-markets experience or a toolkit detailing the range of credit enhancement techniques available to accomplish a given investment objective. The Federal Credit Lab is designed for that audience: a shared, publicly available reference that connects legislative intent to the mechanics of federal credit.
What the Lab delivers
Mapping, analysis, and applied policy research.
Accessible data visualization of the U.S. Federal Credit Supplement
Geographic distribution of loan volume, industry breakdown, historical subsidy data, and a quantified time series of federal credit allocation dating back to 1992.
A taxonomy of federal credit program archetypes
Organized by sector, purpose, structure, eligible participants, risk-mitigation mechanism, and subsidy cost, with in-depth analyses of each program’s objectives, operational mechanisms, and historical performance.
Applied policy research and dissemination
Reports, presentations, webinars, and website content that surface best practices, common challenges, and opportunities for policymakers, academics, philanthropy, and the general public to design better credit policy.
Open the Lab
Explore the federal credit toolkit.
The Federal Credit Lab is publicly available and designed for ease of use and reference. Browse the credit program catalogue, query the allocation time series, or read the latest applied policy analysis from LSI.