A new study of the DIW Berlin (see page 3-9) (authors: Nataliya Barasinska, Nicola Jentzsch und Dorothea Schäfer) has analysed Smava loan data from the years 2007 to 2011 and found out that people who use p2p lending Smava for borrowing resemble the average population using conventional bank loans. Against expectations there was no major difference in age structure:

Regarding gender there is a gap, 28% of Smava borrowers are female; whereis in the comparison group 40% of borrowers are female. Regional distribution of borrower residence did not differ from average population.

Regarding the purpose the loan was taken out for, the following categories dominate on Smava:

1. Home, Garden, home improvement (about 25% of loans)
2. Debt restructuring (about 20% of loans)
3. Car and motorcycle
4. Liquidity
5. Family
6. Education
7. all other categories (less then 25%)