Discussion paper

DP10540 Bank Networks: Contagion, Systemic Risk and Prudential Policy

We present a network model of the interbank market in which optimizing risk averse banks lend to each other and invest in non-liquid assets. Market clearing takes place through a tâtonnement process which yields the equilibrium price, while traded quantities are determined by means of a matching algorithm. Contagion occurs through liquidity hoarding, interbank interlinkages and fire sale externalities. The resulting network configuration exhibits a core-periphery structure, dis-assortative behavior and low density. Within this framework we analyze the effects of prudential policies on the stability/efficiency trade-off. Liquidity requirements unequivocally decrease systemic risk but at the cost of lower efficiency (measured by aggregate investment in non-liquid assets); equity requirements tend to reduce risk (hence increasestability) without reducing significantly overall investment.

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Citation

Faia, E and I Aldasoro (2015), ‘DP10540 Bank Networks: Contagion, Systemic Risk and Prudential Policy‘, CEPR Discussion Paper No. 10540. CEPR Press, Paris & London. https://cepr.org/publications/dp10540