Banking's Past, Present, and Future
I am devastated. Writing in the Financial Times today, Alan Greenspan, argues that the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act will have–indeed is already having–unintended consequences. He cites five specific cases. 1) Making credit ratings agencies legally liable for their opinions about risk made them unwilling to give Ford Motor Credit a rating … Read more
The Financial Times reports that Oswald Grübel, chief of the Swiss bank UBS, “…has attacked the UK government for its public neglect of the City of London, warning that tougher regulations will see Britain and the rest of Europe cede investment banking business to Asia and the US.” Yes, by all means, let’s not overdo … Read more
The 600-plus page report of the US Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission should make for interesting reading for those with the patience to read it. It would be useful to wade into the argument between the Commission, which argues that the crisis was “avoidable” and the Financial Times, which argues that it was not. Maybe later. … Read more
Let’s hope. Just as there are recurring themes in literature—and flies in the wake of a garbage truck–there a few things that we can reliably count on in the wake of a financial crisis. In the immediate aftermath comes damage control. The central bank intervenes. The legislature and executive agree on emergency measures. Bankers keep … Read more
The Financial Times reports today that Portuguese banks have lashed out at Fitch Ratings after the rating agency repeatedly downgraded the banks over their funding and liquidity risks. According to the report: Banco Espírito Santo said it was terminating its contract with Fitch because there was “no valid justification” for downgrading its credit rating by … Read more
Carried away by ever-rising real estate prices and aided and abetted by new types of financial instruments, the financial system’s overindulgence in risk has left taxpayers with a nasty hangover, a hefty tab, and a desire to make someone pay. Commentators have blamed the financial meltdown on the attitude towards risk generated by banks’ corporate … Read more
Although movies dealing with themes of economics and high finance are common, it is rare to see films with economists cast in starring roles. This past week I managed to see two. In Freakonomics: The Movie, the economist is portrayed as hero. Based on the book of the same name by economist Steven Levitt and … Read more