This paper shows how credit quality transition matrices of loans to Italian firms changed during a cyclical downturn (2008-09), compared with a previous time of growth (2006-07). Once transition matrices were linked to interest rates, banks appear to have been remarkably able at calibrating...

Essays in Empirical Finance: Evaluating Risk in FinancialMarketsBy Alysa V. ShcherbakovaThis dissertation is comprised of two parts, each addressing animportant type of financial risk. The first part is composed of anessay discussing Market Risk. This essay examines a causalrelationship between...

This study examines credit score migration rates of farm businesses. We test whether migration probabilities differ across business cycles. Our results suggest that agricultural credit ratings are more likely to improve during expansions and deteriorate during recessions. We also test whether...