Market discipline and systemic risk

We analyze a general equilibrium model in which financial institutions generate endogenous systemic risk. Banks optimally select correlated investments and thereby expose themselves to fire-sale risk so as to sharpen their incentives. Systemic risk is therefore a natural consequence of banks’ fundam...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Morrison, A, Walther, A
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: INFORMS 2019
Description
Summary:We analyze a general equilibrium model in which financial institutions generate endogenous systemic risk. Banks optimally select correlated investments and thereby expose themselves to fire-sale risk so as to sharpen their incentives. Systemic risk is therefore a natural consequence of banks’ fundamental role as delegated monitors. Our model sheds light on recent and historical trends in measured systemic risk. Technological innovations and government-directed lending can cause surges in systemic risk. Strict capital requirements and well-designed government-asset purchase programs can combat systemic risk.