A key lesson learnt from the 2007-2009 global financial crisis was that central banks focused too much on price stability and monetary policy. Financial stability and macroprudential policy were the missing pillars to ensure proper supervision of the financial system. This study examines the challenges faced by central banks in implementing macroprudential policies, while having limited experience as to the effect on their economies. The countercyclical capital buffer is generally considered to be one of the main macroprudential policy instruments. Using South African data, the study furthermore calculates the credit gap which serves as early warning indicator of excessive credit growth and is used to determine the point at which a countercyclical capital buffer should be activated for banks. The calculation of the countercyclical buffer indicates that the credit gap remains below the lower threshold of the buffer add-on. Hence, there is no reason to consider a capital add-on for South African banks as yet. Despite the overall reliability of the credit gap, concerns remain on its reliability under certain circumstances. / Economics / M. Com. (Economics)

This study provides evidence of the relationship between bank-granted credit and business cycles in South Africa. The study is conducted in three phases, namely qualitative research (Phase I), quantitative research (Phase II) and econometric analysis (Phase III). A sequential (connected data) mixed methodology (Phase I and II) is used to collect and analyze primary data from market participants. The qualitative research (Phase I) involves structured interviews with influential or well informed people on the subject matter. Phase I of the study is used to understand the key determinants of bank credit in South Africa and to appreciate how each of the credit aggregates behaves during alternate business cycles. Qualitative survey results suggest key determinants of commercial bank credit in South Africa as economic growth, collateral value, bank competition, money supply, deposit liabilities, capital requirements, bank lending rates and inflation. The qualitative results are used to formulate questions of the structured survey questionnaire (Quantitative research- Phase II). The ANOVA and Pearman’s product correlation analysis techniques are used to assess relationship between variables. The quantitative results show that there is direct and positive relationship between bank lending behavior and credit aggregates namely economic growth, collateral value, bank competition and money supply. On the other hand, the results show that there is a negative relationship between credit growth and bank capital and lending rates. Overall, the quantitative findings show that bank lending in South Africa is procyclical. The survey results indicate that the case for demand-following hypothesis is stronger than supply-leading hypothesis in South Africa. The econometric methodology is used to augment results of the survey study. Phase III of the study re-examines econometric relationship between bank lending and business cycles. The study employs cointegration and vector error correction model (VECM) techniques in order to test for existence of long-run relationship between the selected variables. Granger causality test technique is applied to the variables of interest to test for direction of causation between variables. The study uses quarterly data for the period of 1980:Q1 to 2013:Q4. Business cycles are determined and measured by Gross Domestic Product at market prices while bank-granted credit is proxied by credit extension to the private sector. The econometric test results show that there is a significant long-run relationship between economic growth and bank credit extension. The Granger causality test provides evidence of unidirectional causal relationship with direction from economic growth to credit extension for South Africa. The study results indicate that the case for demand-following hypothesis is stronger than supply-leading hypothesis in South Africa. Economic growth spurs credit market development in South Africa. Overall, the results show that there is a stable long-run relationship between macroeconomic business cycles and real credit growth in South Africa. The results show that economic growth significantly causes and stimulates bank credit. The study, therefore, recommends that South Africa needs to give policy priority to promotion and development of the real sector of the economy to propel and accelerate credit extension. Economic growth is considered as the significant policy variable to stimulate credit extension. The findings therefore hold important implications for both theory and policy. / Business Management / D.B.L.

Cette thèse étudie le rôle du cycle financier dans la macroéconomie. Le chapitre 1 étudie le synchronisme des cycles conjoncturels et des cycles financiers en zone euro. Le chapitre 2 propose une nouvelle mesure de l’écart de production corrigé des facteurs financiers. Le chapitre 3 propose un indicateur simple et intuitif pour quantifier la procyclicité de la politique budgétaire en fonction d’estimations de l’écart de production et du solde budgétaire primaire corrigé des variations conjoncturelles. La thèse montre que la prise en compte du cycle financier permet d’éclairer l’analyse des fluctuations macrofinancières. L’un des résultats clés est que la Grèce, l’Irlande et l’Espagne ont connu un cycle de macrofinancier boom­bust commun dans les années 2000. Les éléments empiriques présentés dans les trois chapitres de cette thèse ont des implications pour les principaux domaines de la politique macroéconomique : la politique monétaire (les politiques macroprudentielles et monétaires doivent être coordonnées), la politique budgétaire (la procyclicité de la politique budgétaire peut être réduite en tenant compte du cycle financier dans l’estimation du solde budgétaire structurel), et la politique financière (les politiques de stabilité financière peuvent compléter les politiques budgétaires et monétaires dans leur fonction de stabilisation du cycle). / This dissertation studies the role of the financial cycle in macroeconomics. Chapter 1 studies the synchronization of business cycles and financial cycles in the euro area. Chapter 2 proposes a new, finance­adjusted measure of the output gap. Chapter 3 proposes a simple and intuitive indicator to quantify the pro­cyclicality of fiscal policy based on output gap and cyclically­adjusted primary fiscal balance estimates. The dissertation shows that taking account of the financial cycle can help inform the analysis of macrofinancial fluctuations. A key finding is that Greece, Ireland and Spain experienced a common macrofinancial boom­bust cycle in the 2000s. The evidence in the three chapters of this dissertation has implications for the main areas of macroeconomic policy: monetary policy (macroprudential and monetary policies should be coordinated), fiscal policy (fiscal policy pro-cyclicality can be reduced by taking account of the financial cycle in estimating structural fiscal balances), and financial policy (financial stability policies can complement fiscal and monetary policies in stabilizing the cycle).

The aim of this diploma thesis is to analyse the development of the regulatory framework and its current state according to the latest Basel III framework. The new rules were created as a response to the financial crisis that started in 2007. The framework represents significant increase in quality, amount and transparency of the capital base in comparison with the pre-crisis situation. Basel III has both micro and macroprudential focus. The diploma thesis describes the development and shortcomings of regulatory framework that necessitated revisions of the regulatory rules over time. These rules evolve with the changes in the financial system and the way how financial risks are managed. Although the roots of financial crisis are related to the mortgage-backed securities market, the banking sector played an important role in spreading the problems. Therefore the diploma thesis will also concentrate on fundamental flaws that contributed to the financial crisis. Then the immediate corrective action taken as a response to the financial crisis are described. After that, the Basel III rules are presented in detail. The newest monitoring of the rules carried out by the Basel Committe and cost analysis carried out by IMF including evaluation based on various analyses of Basel III are presented. Basel III has addressed most of the flaws revealed in Basel II. However, some issues still remain unsolved, which can lead to future problems with the financial system stability.

La crise financière de 2008 a mis en exergue l'instabilité financière des banques en identifiant le caractère procyclique du levier bancaire, la sous-capitalisation des banques, et la nécessité de définir une nouvelle régulation bancaire. La dimension internationale des activités bancaires et l'identification des banques globales complètent ce constat. Les banques européennes, par leurs expositions aux marchés financiers américains, sont diversifiées internationalement: une part de leurs actifs et de leurs dettes est libellée en dollar américain. Le taux de change flottant entre le dollar et l'euro introduit un effet de valorisation et un risque de change qui impactent la stabilité bancaire. Cette thèse étudie l'impact de la diversification internationale des bilans bancaires sur la procyclicité du levier, sur la structure du capital, et sur la volatilité de capital. Quatre chapitres combinent des travaux théoriques et empiriques. Le premier chapitre analyse l'impact théorique de la diversification sur la procyclicité du levier. Le chapitre 2 utilise des données bancaires françaises entre 1999 et 2015 et montre un impact positif. Dans le chapitre 3, les mêmes données sont utilisées afin d'estimer l'impact de la diversification sur la structure du capital. L'introduction de cette dimension est déterminante dans le cadre de cette analyse. Enfin, le chapitre 4 élargit la problématique en reliant l'intégration internationale, la diversification et la volatilité du capital. Nous identifions les différentes sources de risque et nous montrons que la banque peut bénéficier d'un régime de change flottant et d'une diversification internationale. / The 2008 financial crisis has rekindled discussions on the financial stability of banks by identifying the procyclical behavior of banking leverage, the lack of capital in banks' balance sheet and the necessity of introducing a new regulatory framework. It has also highlighted the international dimension of banking activities and the identification of global banks. The significant exposure to the US financial markets leads to an international diversification of European global banks where part of their assets and liabilities are denominated in US dollar. The floating exchange rate regime between the US dollar and the euro then implies a foreign exchange risk and a valuation effect that would affect banking stability. The purpose of thesis is to study the impact of international diversification of bank’s balance sheet on leverage procyclicality, capital structure and equity volatility. I develop four chapters combining theoretical and empirical research. The first chapter analyses the theoretical impact of currency diversification on leverage procyclicality. Chapter 2 uses innovative data on banks located in France from 1999 to 2015 and shows that the relationship is positive. In the third chapter, we use our data to estimate the impact of international diversification on capital structure and we show that introducing this new dimension is determinant to the capital structure. Finally, chapter 4 enlarges the analysis to international integration, diversification and equity volatility. I identify all risk channels a bank supports and show that banks can benefit from both floating foreign exchange regime and international diversification.

Recent episodes of financial instability have motivated researchers as well as policy makers to intensify research on financial stability. This thesis contributes to current research and policy discussion by elaborating and empirically testing methodologies, which can be used to measure financial sector vulnerabilities and identify potential risks for financial stability. It further focuses on the link between real and the financial sector as well as possible implications of household financial distress on the aggregate economy. Together with the proposed framework we provide the survey of the current literature on these topics as well as the empirical results. We argue in favour of stress testing methodologies covering the key risks on banks' balance sheets. These frameworks can also be used for emerging markets where data availability is typically limited. It is shown that due to high volatility of credit growth in emerging economies, the static approach assuming constant balance sheet items is not very appropriate. Furthermore, the feedback effect between the financial sector and the real economy might play an important role under certain assumptions, and therefore it should be taken into account by policy makers. This effect can also emerge in the real sector itself as potential instability can...

As a response to the financial crisis of 2008 the IASB and the FASB developed IFRS 9 and ASC 326, respectively. These accounting regulations are supposed to increase reporting transparency and promote financial stability by determining the calculation and recognition of loan loss provisions. However, previous literature has brought up concerns that loan loss provisions can negatively impact the lending activity in banks. If that was the case, they would negatively affect the amount of capital available in an economy and thereby threaten financial stability and economic growth especially during times of economic downturns. To shed light on this topic, this thesis investigates the relationship between loan loss provisions and lending activity in banks applying IFRS and US GAAP. The thesis provides practical as well as theoretical implications as it discusses the findings in a practical context and relates it to relevant theories.  The dataset utilized includes empirical data from Q1 2020 until Q4 2022 and covers 330 banks from 38 countries. The data was gathered from Refinitiv´s Eikon database as well as from the International Monetary Fund. It was then statistically analyzed by conducting different kinds of statistical inference. All methods applied are of a quantitative nature and the underlying methodology is positivist. The results of this thesis suggest that loan loss provisions under IFRS 9 are on average higher than under ASC 326. Further, it was found that loan loss provisions under IFRS 9 exhibit a statistically significant negative relationship with lending activity. In contrast, this relationship was found to be insignificant under ASC 326. Together, these findings suggest that higher loan loss provisions have a negative effect on lending activity. It is concluded that the impairment model of IFRS 9 might compromise financial stability by limiting lending activities during times of economic turmoil.  Additionally, due to the increased room for managerial judgment under IFRS 9 it is theorized that the higher loan loss provisions can be the result of earnings management. Loan loss provisions under IFRS 9 could thus be more supported by Agency theory. On the other hand, ASC 326 offers less room for managerial discretion and could be more supported by Stewardship theory. This thesis also suggests topics for potential future research. The knowledge about loan loss provisions and their effects on lending activity could be extended by using different variables in the regression model. Additionally, a longer timeframe as well as other accounting standards could be investigated. Furthermore, the effects of loan loss provisions on loan quality and risk management in banks are in need of further examination. Lastly, the capital requirements of Basel III and their impact on procyclicality should be researched.