We construct a factor model of the yield curve and specify time series processes forthese factors, so that the innovations are mutually orthogonal. At the same time,the factors are constructed in such a way that they assume clear, intuitive interpretations.The resulting “intelligible...

This paper presents an in-depth analysis of developments in the microfinance sector beforeand after the Lehman Brothers collapse in 2008 by comparing them with developments intraditional banking sectors of emerging market economies and developing countries. Thefindings indicate that microfinance...

Lack of transparency in securitization transactions significantly contributed to thesevere financial crisis of 2007–2009. To increase transparency we—based on arecent idea by Markowitz (2009)—propose an incentive compatible mechanismfor future securitization transactions: financial claims...

The unfolding financial turmoil in mature economies has prompted the official and private sectors to reconsider policies, business models and risk management practices. Regardless of its future evolution, it already threatens to become one of the defining economic moments of the 21st century....

Government-nanced bank restructuring programs, occasionally costing up to 50% of GDP,are commonly used to resolve banking crises. We analyze the Ramsey-optimal paths of bankrecapitalization programs that weigh recapitalization benets and costs under dierent nancingoptions. In our model bank...

This paper contributes to the literature on the properties of money and creditindicators for detecting asset price misalignments. After a review of the evidence inthe literature on this issue, the paper discusses the approaches that can be consideredto detect asset price busts. Considering a...

This paper investigates the returns and °ows of German money marketfunds before and during the liquidity crisis of 2007/2008. The main¯ndings of this paper are: in liquid times, money market funds en-hanced their returns by investing in less liquid papers. By doing sothey outperformed other...

Gegenstand der vorliegenden Studie ist die vertiefte Analyse des marktphasenabhängigen Einflusses der Liquiditätauf die Credit Spreads Euro denominierter Unternehmensanleihen. Dabei werden zwei Untersuchungsperiodenwährend verschiedener Kapitalmarktphasen betrachtet. Die erste...

By allowing for imperfectly informed markets and the role of private information, we offer newinsights about observed deviations of portfolio concentrations in domestic relative to foreignrisky assets, or “home bias”, from what standard finance models predict. Our model ascribesthe...

Assessments of investors’ risk appetite/aversion stance via indicators often yields resultswhich seem unsatisfactory (see e.g. Illing and Aaron (2005)). Understanding howsuch indicators work therefore seems essential for further improvements. The presentpaper seeks to contribute to this...