On a Tight Leash : Does Banks' Organizational Structure Matter for Macroprudential Spillovers?

This paper examines whether the effects of changes in the intensity of macroprudential regulation vary with the organisational structure of banks. Our analysis compares the response of foreign banks' branches vs. subsidiaries to changes in the regulation in the home country of the parent bank. Focusing on branches and subsidiaries of the same banking group allows us controlling for all the factors affecting parent bank decisions regarding its foreign affiliates lending provision. We document that following capital regulation tightening branches of multinational institutions reduce interbank lending in the UK by 6% more relative to subsidiaries of to the same banking group. However, we find no differences in lending provided to the UK's private sector. We also find no heterogeneity in the effect of reserve requirements and lending standards