We find evidence that banks target return on equity (RoE) and make active use of leverage to affect the speed of adjustment towards RoE targets. That holds for both the pre- and post-2007 periods and especially for banks that tend to operate with above median leverage among their peer group. As...

We relate the valuation dynamics of global systemically important banks (G-SIB) to levels of public sector corruption in their country of domicile. We show that G-SIB valuations benefitted from higher perceived public sector corruption before the global financial crisis (1998:Q1-2007:Q2), but...

We develop a model of bank risk-taking with strategic sovereign default risk. Domestic banks invest in real projects and purchase government bonds. While an increase in bond purchases crowds out profitable investments, it improves the government's incentives to repay and therefore lowers its...

We develop a model of bank risk-taking with strategic sovereign default risk. Domestic banks invest in real projects and purchase government bonds. While an increase in bond purchases crowds out profitable investments, it improves the government's incentives to repay and therefore lowers its...

We propose a normative strategic asset allocation model for long horizon sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) subject to a sustainable spending constraint and background risks. SWFs should have lower stock market exposure as they mature and should use the SWF to smooth business cycle shocks, rather...

From the late 1980s, many countries have reformed the institutional framework governing their central banks to increase operational independence. Collecting systematic biographical information, international press coverage, and independent expert opinions, we find that over the same period...