Theory predicts that information sharing among lenders attenuates adverse selection and moral hazard, and can therefore increase lending and reduce default rates. To test these predictions, we construct a new international data set on private credit bureaus and public credit registers. We find that bank lending is higher and proxies for default rates are lower in countries where lenders share i...

We adopt a systemic risk indicator measured by the price of insurance against systemic financial distress and assess individual banks’ marginal contributions to the systemic risk. The methodology is applied to the 19 bank holding companies covered by the US Supervisory Capital Assessment Program (SCAP), with the systemic risk indicator peaking around 1.1 trillion USD in March 2009. Our systemic...

This paper analyzes the pros and cons of both the integrated and the specialized approaches to financial supervision. The theoretical arguments are discussed considering some recent experiences around the world and having the Latin American and the Caribbean context as a frame. Based on the analysis of the efficacy and the efficiency of each approach to fulfill the main objectives of financial ...

In an effort to bolster soundness standards in banking, the 2006 international regulatory agreement of Basel II requires globally active banks to include operational risk in estimating regulatory and economic capital to be held against major types of risk. This paper discusses practical issues faced by a bank in designing and implementing an operational risk capital model. Focusing on the use o...

We propose a set of consistency conditions that frontier efficiency measures should meet to be most useful for regulatory analysis or other purposes. The efficiency estimates should be consistent in their efficiency levels, rankings, and identification of best and worst firms, consistent over time and with competitive conditions in the market, and consistent with standard nonfrontier measures o...

Resampling implementation of a stress-scenario approach to estimating portfolio default loss distributions is proposed as the basis for estimates of the appropriate absolute level of economic capital allocations for portfolio credit risk. Estimates are presented for stress scenarios of varying severity and implications of different time horizons are analyzed. Results for a numeraire portfolio a...

We study the dynamics of market entry following mergers and acquisitions (M&As), and the behavior of recent entrants in supplying output that might be withdrawn by the consolidating firms. The data, drawn from the banking industry, suggest that M&As are associated with subsequent increases in the probability of entry. The estimates suggest that M&As explain more than 20% of entry in metropolita...

Increasing market discipline has emerged as a major policy issue for banking regulators. The most prominent proposals for increasing market discipline would require banks to issue subordinated debt to the public. This paper explores the fundamental rationale behind mandatory subordinated debt proposals and their advantages and disadvantages. Our analysis indicates that a subordinated debt requi...

In a general equilibrium model with risk neutral and risk averse agents, we show that if banks issue both demand deposits and equity, then free banking is run-proof and ecient. In particular, we obtain the ®rst best insurance solution if there is adequate risk neutral capital. If sucient risk neutral capital is unavailable, then a partial suspension of convertibility is optimal. In general, t...

There is a wide cross-country variation in the institutional structure of bank failure resolution, including the role of the deposit insurer. We use quantitative analysis for 57 countries and discussion of specific country cases to illustrate this variation. Using data for over 1,700 banks across 57 countries, we show that banks in countries where the deposit insurer has the responsibility of i...