Downturn Credit Portfolio Risk, Regulatory Capital and Prudential Incentives
International Review of Finance, Vol. 10, No. 2, 2010, pp. 185-207
36 Pages Posted: 10 Nov 2013
Date Written: November 26, 2009
Abstract
This paper analyzes the level and cyclicality of bank capital requirement in relation to (i) the model methodologies through-the-cycle and point-in-time, (ii) four distinct downturn loss rate given default concepts, and (iii) US corporate and mortgage loans. The major finding is that less accurate models may lead to a lower bank capital requirement for real estate loans. In other words, the current capital regulations may not support the development of credit portfolio risk measurement models as these would lead to higher capital requirements and hence lower lending volumes. The finding explains why risk measurement techniques in real estate lending may be less developed than in other credit risk instruments. In addition, various policy recommendations for prudential regulators are made.
Keywords: Basel II, Business Cycle, Capital Adequacy, Correlation, Credit Portfolio Risk, Credit Value-at-Risk, Economic Downturn, Expected Loss, Loss Given Default, Probability of Default, Value-at-Risk
JEL Classification: G20, G28, C51
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation