Dealing with Financial Fragility in Transition Economies

Financial Development and Economic Growth in Transition Economies :

We examine the role of financial development in economic growth in the former Communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States during the first two decades since the beginning of transition. These countries, which had undeveloped financial systems under Communism, provide an interesting test of the relationship between financial development and growth...

Property relations and financial reforms in transition economies *

Property relations and financial markets are key aspects of the transition to a market economy. This paper reviews conceptual analysis and recent experience in these areas under five broad headings: (1) property rights and the legal framework; (2) privatisation; (3) the management and regulation of state-owned firms; (4) banking and finance; and (5) restructuring. The emphasis of the paper is o...

Financial Fragility with Rational and Irrational Exuberance

This article formalizes investor rationality and irrationality, exuberance and apprehension, to consider the implications of belief formation for the fragility of an economy’s financial structure. The model presented generates a financial structure with portfolio linkages that make it susceptible to contagious financial crises, despite the absence of coordination failures. Investors forecast th...

Governance and Financial Fragility

Bailouts and Financial Fragility

Should policy makers be prevented from bailing out investors in the event of a crisis? I study this question in a model of financial intermediation with limited commitment. When a crisis occurs, the policy maker will respond by transferring resources to those investors facing losses. The anticipation of such a “bailout” distorts ex ante incentives, leading intermediaries to become excessively i...