Based on a mean-variance model of bank portfolio selection subject to the value-at-risk constraint, we make predictions on transmission channels through which lower long-term interest rates increase bank loan supply: the portfolio balance channel, the bank balance sheet channel, and the...

On 18-19 June 2004, the BIS held a conference on "Understanding Low Inflation and Deflation". This event brought together central bankers, academics and market practitioners to exchange views on this issue (see the conference programme in this document). This paper was presented at the workshop....

We explore the micro price setting behavior using micro data of the consumer price index (CPI) in Japan. We estimate price hazard functions by the finite mixture model with multiple spells allowing the heterogeneity among price setters. Our estimation supports these striking findings. First,...

This paper attempts to test the "reach for yields" hypothesis in the Japanese bond markets to explore the cause of extremely low credit spreads on Japanese bonds, especially BBB-rated bonds, using a three-factor CAPM ([gamma]-CAPM) with (co)skewness as an additional market risk factor. Under the...