IMF Working Papers

Bank Capitalization As a Signal

By Daniel C Hardy

May 1, 2012

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Daniel C Hardy. Bank Capitalization As a Signal, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2012) accessed December 2, 2024
Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary

The level of a bank‘s capitalization can effectively transmit information about its riskiness and therefore support market discipline, but asymmetry information may induce exaggerated or distortionary behavior: banks may vie with one another to signal confidence in their prospects by keeping capitalization low, and banks‘ creditors often cannot distinguish among them - tendencies that can be seen across banks and across time. Prudential policy is warranted to help offset these tendencies.

Subject: Asset and liability management, Banking, Credit, Distressed institutions, Financial institutions, Financial services, Investment banking, Money, National accounts, Return on investment, Special purpose vehicle, Tax incentives

Keywords: Bank capitalization, Break-even point, Credit, Distressed institutions, Financing ratio, Global, High-yield bank, Investment banking, Investment opportunity, Low-yield bank, Net present value, Partial derivative, Pro-cyclicality, Return on investment, Signaling games, Special purpose vehicle, Value function, WP

Publication Details

  • Pages:

    25

  • Volume:

    ---

  • DOI:

    ---

  • Issue:

    ---

  • Series:

    Working Paper No. 2012/114

  • Stock No:

    WPIEA2012114

  • ISBN:

    9781475503357

  • ISSN:

    1018-5941