Existing theories of a firm's optimal capital structure seem to fail in explaining why many healthy and profitable firms rely heavily on equity financing, even though benefits associated with debt (like tax shields) appear to be high and the bankruptcy risk low. This holds in particular for...

This paper extends the analysis of Junge and Kugler (2013) on the effects of increased capital requirements on Swiss GDP and obtains the following main results: First the Modigliani-Miller effect is robust with respect to a substantial extension of the data base and yields an offset of capital...

Existing theories of a firm's optimal capital structure seem to fail in explaining why many healthy and profitable firms rely heavily on equity financing, even though benefits associated with debt (like tax shields) appear to be high and the bankruptcy risk low. This holds in particular for...

The recent financial crisis has led to the introduction of contingent convertible instruments (CoCos) in the capital framework for banks. Although CoCos can provide benefits, such as automatic recapitalization of troubled banks, their inherent risks raise questions about whether they increase...

The second Basel Capital Accord points to market discipline as a tool to reinforce capital standards and supervision in promoting bank safety and soundness. The Bank for International Settlements contends that market discipline imposes strong incentives on banks to operate in a safe and...

"The book demonstrates how to build a quantitative CCAR framework from scratch according to regulatory expectations and guidelines. It also encompasses capital planning and scenario analysis, thereby providing in one place a complete set of technical tools for conducting the CCAR assessment...

Die regulatorische Vorzugsbehandlung von Staatsanleihen steht zunehmend in der Kritik. Banken müssen für die staatlichen Verbindlichkeiten nach wie vor kein Eigenkapital vorhalten, und Restriktionen für Großkredite gibt es nicht. Diese Sonderbehandlung privilegiert die staatlichen Gläubiger...

This note considers Tobin's average Q in a framework where firms finance investment by equities and debt. The determination of its long-run equilibrium value Q° is based on positing equality of the loan rate and, adjusted for a risk premium, the return on equities. Q° can thus be characterized...

Introduction -- Why didn't the EU-wide stress tests receive a better reaction? -- Operational features and evolution of the US and EU-wide tests -- Criticisms of stress-testing methodology and of the measurement of bank capital -- Criticism of the height of the target capital ratio in stress...