Global public finances: basic facts and numbers

April 18, 2014

The latest IMF fiscal monitor underscores progress in global fiscal consolidation. The structural government deficit in the developed world has been reduced by 1.2%-points to below 4% of GDP in 2013, while the public debt stock inched lower to 107% of GDP. Fiscal tightening is now becoming less aggressive in most countries, with the notable exception of Japan. Fiscal risks remain globally elevated though, due to low inflation, historically debt levels (view link here), and sizable unfunded pension liabilities.

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The trouble with (sterilized) FX interventions in emerging markets

April 5, 2014

Large foreign exchange interventions are common in emerging markets, typically in response to capital flows. What is less well understood is the expansionary (contractionary) impact of FX purchases (sales) on local credit, even if the transactions are sterilized. Sterilization securities mostly end up on banks’ balance sheets, where they function as substitutes for bank reserves, serve as collateral, and encourage banks to expand their loans-to-securities ratios.

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The structural vulnerability of local EM assets

April 4, 2014

The rapid growth in local-currency bond markets in emerging countries has transferred foreign exchange risk from local borrowers to global institutional investors and mutual funds. Gross capital inflows have soared, magnifying the dependence of flows on mutual fund holdings, particularly on volatile open-ended fixed income funds. In the wake of these changes the “beta” of local emerging market assets has risen and the tendency towards herding has increased.

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An overview of financial crisis theories

March 29, 2014

Daniel Detzer and Hansjoerg Herr deliver a superb summary of timeless economic theories of financial crisis. The main focus is on (i) escalatory inflation and deflation dynamics caused by monetary policy, (ii) boom and bust investment cycles caused by herding and inefficient expectation formation, and (iii) speculative bubbles related to cognitive behaviour that is inconsistent with efficient markets.

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The vulnerability of modern dealer bank financing

March 28, 2014

Modern dealer bank financing relies largely on collateralized transactions. In order to achieve collateral efficiency institutions engage in rehypothecation, for example through matched-book transactions, internalizing trading activities, and re-pledging of margin collateral. A New York Fed article suggests that this funding structure faces risks from rollover, credit rating downgrades, and reputational considerations.

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How banks have adjusted to higher capital requirements

March 23, 2014

Capital regulation reform requires banks to hold a much higher ratio of core capital to risk-weighted assets, taking some toll on lending and economic activity. An empirical analysis by the BIS suggests that the process is well under way. Mathematically, most of the adjustment has been achieved through retained earnings. However, in developed countries also lending spreads have increased, credit growth growth has slowed, trading assets have declined, and the share of higher risk-weighted assets has fallen.

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Financialization of commodity markets: the basics

March 22, 2014

An academic summary paper shows how the structure of commodity markets has changed, most notably through the growth of commodity index investors. This has raised the correlation of commodities with other asset classes. Moreover, this financialization may impair at times the two key functions of commodity markets: risk sharing and price discovery.

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How real money funds could destabilize bond markets

March 16, 2014

A paper by Feroli, Kashyap, Schoneholtz and Shin illustrates how unlevered funds can become a source of asset price momentum due to peer pressure and redemptions. Regulatory reforms that impair bank intermediation could compound negative escalatory dynamics. This raises the risk of dislocations in fixed income markets if and when extraordinary monetary accommodation is being withdrawn.

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The ECB and the option of large-scale asset purchases

March 15, 2014

Large-scale asset purchases have become a plausible policy option for the European Central Bank. A BNP research report suggests that an initial meaningful program could require purchases worth 3-5% of euro area GDP. A program of that size would have to focus on the sovereign bond market, with the acquisition of private-sector assets possibly featuring as a complement.

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