Self-Fulfilling Liquidity Dry-Ups

25 Pages Posted: 18 Oct 2012 Last revised: 23 Oct 2012

See all articles by Frederic Malherbe

Frederic Malherbe

University College London - Department of Economics

Date Written: October 15, 2012

Abstract

This paper presents a model in which cash holding imposes a negative externality because it worsens future adverse selection in markets for long-term assets, which impairs their role for liquidity provision. Adverse selection worsens when potential sellers of long-term assets hold more cash because then fewer sales reflect cash needs, and proportionally more sales reflect private information. Moreover, future market illiquidity makes current cash holding more appealing. This feedback effect may result in hoarding behavior and a market breakdown, which I interpret as a self-fulfilling liquidity dry-up. This mechanism suggests that imposing liquidity requirements on financial institutions may backfire.

Keywords: Hoarding, Cash holding, Adverse selection, Externality, Liquididy requirements, Toxic assets

JEL Classification: D62, D82, E58, G01, G21, G28

Suggested Citation

Malherbe, Frederic, Self-Fulfilling Liquidity Dry-Ups (October 15, 2012). Journal of Finance, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2163147

Frederic Malherbe (Contact Author)

University College London - Department of Economics ( email )

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