What distinguishes unsecured debt from secured debt?

• A. It is backed by equity
• B. It is guaranteed by a third party
• C. It does not have collateral backing it
• D. It can only be issued by government

Answer: (C)

Unsecured debt is characterized by the fact that it does not have collateral backing it, meaning that there are no specific assets pledged to secure the loan. In the event of default, creditors do not have a legal claim to any particular asset owned by the borrower, making it inherently riskier for lenders. This lack of collateral often means that unsecured debt comes with higher interest rates compared to secured debt, which does involve specific assets that act as security for the lender.

While alternatives like equity backing or third-party guarantees might involve different types of financial agreements or instruments, they do not fundamentally distinguish unsecured debt from secured debt. The notion that unsecured debt can only be issued by the government is incorrect; both individuals and corporations can issue unsecured debt in various forms, such as personal loans or credit card debt.