In the wake of the financial crisis of late 2008, the Treasury developed HAMP (Home Affordable Modification Program) as the latest in a series of federal government initiatives to stem the growing foreclosure problem. At the time, foreclosures had been rising for several years already, leading to an increase in the number of empty homes owned by banks and weakening the banking system, at a time when policymakers felt that restoring economic and bank stability was crucial. The history of prior efforts, which met with limited success, provides a useful context for examining HAMP and its...