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Procyclicality and Path Dependence of Sovereign Credit Ratings: The Example of Europe

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  • Lennart Freitag

Abstract

type="main" xml:lang="en"> This paper investigates empirically the behavior of Credit Rating Agencies (CRAs) when assessing sovereign solvency for European countries. Using probit regressions, I find that even after controlling for macroeconomic factors, CRAs take the business cycle into account. Also, there is a clear case of path dependence in sovereign ratings. Additionally, it turns out that there seems to be a discrepancy between upgrades and downgrades. These results are robust to a number of different specifications.

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  • Lennart Freitag, 2015. "Procyclicality and Path Dependence of Sovereign Credit Ratings: The Example of Europe," Economic Notes, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA, vol. 44(2), pages 309-332, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecnote:v:44:y:2015:i:2:p:309-332
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    2. Freitag L., 2014. "Default probabilities, CDS premiums and downgrades : A probit-MIDAS analysis," Research Memorandum 038, Maastricht University, Graduate School of Business and Economics (GSBE).
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