We compare a credit rating agency's incentives to acquire costly information when it is only paid for giving favorable ratings to the corresponding incentives when the agency is paid upfront, i.e. irrespective of the ratings assigned. We show that, in the presence of moral hazard,contingent fees...

We develop a model of credit rating agencies (CRAs) based on reputation concerns. Ratings a ffect investors' choice and, thereby, also issuers' access to funding and default risk. We show that in equilibrium - the informational content of credit ratings is inferior to that of CRAs' private...

We develop a model of credit rating agencies (CRAs) based on reputation concerns. Ratings affect investors' choice and, thereby, also issuers' access to funding and default risk. We show that - in equilibrium - the informational content of credit ratings is inferior to that of CRAs' private...

We develop a model of credit rating agencies (CRAs) based on reputation concerns. Ratings a ffect investors' choice and, thereby, also issuers' access to funding and default risk. We show that in equilibrium - the informational content of credit ratings is inferior to that of CRAs' private...