It is known that sunspots can trigger panic-based bank runs and that the optimal banking contract can tolerate panic-based runs. The existing literature assumes that these sunspots are based on a publicly observed extrinsic randomizing device. In this paper, I extend the analysis of panic-based runs to include an asymmetric-information, extrinsic randomizing device. Depositors observe different, but correlated, signals on the stability of the bank. I find that if the signals that depositors obtain are highly correlated, there exists a correlated equilibrium for some demand deposit contracts. In this equilibrium, either a full bank run, or a partial bank run, or non bank run occurs depending on the realization of the signals. Computed examples indicate that in some economies, a demand-deposit contract that tolerates bank runs and partial bank runs is optimal; while in some other economies a run-proof contract is optimal.
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Paper provided by Cornell University, Center for Analytic Economics in its series Working Papers with number
07-14.
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Find related papers by JEL classification: D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Mortgages P11 - Economic Systems - - Capitalist Systems - - - Planning, Coordination, and Reform
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James Peck & Karl Shell, 2003.
"Equilibrium Bank Runs,"
Journal of Political Economy,
University of Chicago Press, vol. 111(1), pages 103-123, February.
[Downloadable!] (restricted)
Other versions:
Peck, James & Shell, Karl, 2001.
"Equilibrium Bank Runs,"
Working Papers
01-10r, Cornell University, Center for Analytic Economics.
[Downloadable!]