Arbeitspapier

Financial imbalances and financial fragility

This paper develops a general equilibrium model to analyze the link between financial imbalances and financial crises. The model features an interbank market subject to frictions and where two equilibria may (co-)exist. The normal times equilibrium is characterized by a deep market with highly leveraged banks. The crisis times equilibrium is characterized by bank deleveraging, a market run, and a liquidity trap. Crises occur when there is too much liquidity (savings) in the economy with respect to the number of (safe) investment opportunities. In effect, the economy is shown to have a limited liquidity absorption capacity, which depends —inter alia— on the productivity of the real sector, the ultimate borrower. I extend the model in order to analyze the effects of financial integration of an emerging and a developed country. I find results in line with the recent literature on global imbalances. Financial integration permits a more efficient allocation of savings worldwide in normal times. It also implies a current account deficit for the developed country. The current account deficit makes financial crises more likely when it exceeds the liquidity absorption capacity of the developed country. Thus, under some conditions —which this paper spells out— financial integration of emerging countries may increase the fragility of the international financial system. Implications of financial integration and global imbalances in terms of output, wealth distribution, welfare, and policy interventions are also discussed.

Language
Englisch

Bibliographic citation
Series: ECB Working Paper ; No. 1317

Classification
Wirtschaft
Macroeconomics: Consumption; Saving; Wealth
Financial Aspects of Economic Integration
Financial Crises
Banks; Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
Subject
Asymmetric information
financial crisis
financial integration
global imbalances
Moral Hazard

Event
Geistige Schöpfung
(who)
Boissay, Frédéric
Event
Veröffentlichung
(who)
European Central Bank (ECB)
(where)
Frankfurt a. M.
(when)
2011

Handle
Last update
10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET

Data provider

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Object type

  • Arbeitspapier

Associated

  • Boissay, Frédéric
  • European Central Bank (ECB)

Time of origin

  • 2011

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