We investigate three prominent German bank failures in the financial crisis of 2007-2008, IKB Deutsche Industriebank, Landesbank Sachsen, and Hypo Real Estate (HRE). The cases provide a unique setting to analyze the interrelation between financial reporting, regulation, and financial stability....

The contagion potential of mark-to-market accounting rules interacting with regulatory constraints is compared to that of funding constraints in a network of banks. The fair value accounting rules were amended at the height of the crisis to break the vicious link between allegedly irrational...