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Origins of the financial crisis and requirements for reform

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  • Blundell-Wignall, Adrian
  • Atkinson, Paul

Abstract

This paper examines the causes of the global financial crisis (focusing in particular on why residential mortgage-backed securities and credit default swaps exploded from around 2004) and the policy reform agenda. Arbitrage opportunities in capital rules and the tax system were available, and changes in regulations affecting the leverage of international banks (IBs) played a key role in allowing these opportunities to be exploited on a greater scale. Changes to the Basel rules also actively contributed to the sharp rise in toxic securities. The policy agenda focuses on the need to deal with toxic assets, and for broader reforms to incentive structures, not only of capital rules, but also of corporate governance and banking structures. Specific policy reform recommendations are made. Recent numbers on the capital needs of banks suggest that we are not very far into the process of dealing with the crisis, and lack of transparency in this respect is a major issue in Europe. The longer-run reform process too is not focusing on the ideal building blocks.

Suggested Citation

  • Blundell-Wignall, Adrian & Atkinson, Paul, 2009. "Origins of the financial crisis and requirements for reform," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 20(5), pages 536-548, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:asieco:v:20:y:2009:i:5:p:536-548
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Adrian Blundell-Wignall & Paul Atkinson & Se Hoon Lee, 2009. "The current financial crisis: Causes and policy issues," OECD Journal: Financial Market Trends, OECD Publishing, vol. 2008(2), pages 1-21.
    2. George A. Akerlof, 2009. "How Human Psychology Drives the Economy and Why It Matters," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 91(5), pages 1175-1175.
    3. Adrian Blundell-Wignall & Paul E Atkinson, 2008. "The Sub-prime Crisis: Causal Distortions and Regulatory Reform," RBA Annual Conference Volume (Discontinued), in: Paul Bloxham & Christopher Kent (ed.),Lessons from the Financial Turmoil of 2007 and 2008, Reserve Bank of Australia.
    4. Adrian Blundell-Wignall, 2008. "The subprime crisis: Size, deleveraging and some policy options," OECD Journal: Financial Market Trends, OECD Publishing, vol. 2008(1), pages 29-53.
    5. Raghuram G. Rajan, 2005. "Has financial development made the world riskier?," Proceedings - Economic Policy Symposium - Jackson Hole, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, issue Aug, pages 313-369.
    6. Nigel Jenkinson & Adrian Penalver & Nicholas Vause, 2008. "Financial Innovation: What Have We Learnt?," RBA Annual Conference Volume (Discontinued), in: Paul Bloxham & Christopher Kent (ed.),Lessons from the Financial Turmoil of 2007 and 2008, Reserve Bank of Australia.
    7. Adrian Blundell-Wignall, 2007. "Structured Products: Implications for Financial Markets," Financial Market Trends, OECD Publishing, vol. 2007(2), pages 27-57.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Leo Ahrens & Lukas Hakelberg & Thomas Rixen, 2022. "A victim of regulatory arbitrage? Automatic exchange of information and the use of golden visas and corporate shells," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(3), pages 653-672, July.
    3. Kotapati Srinivasa Reddy & Vinay Kumar Nangia & Rajat Agrawal, 2014. "The 2007–2008 Global Financial Crisis, and Cross-border Mergers and Acquisitions," Global Journal of Emerging Market Economies, Emerging Markets Forum, vol. 6(3), pages 257-281, September.
    4. Augustine Y. Dzathor & Alisa L. Mosley & Mary M. White, 2013. "A Longitudinal Examination of The Impact of Founding Owner Operator Characteristics on Nascent Venture Performance: Evidence from the Kauffman Firm Survey," International Journal of Business and Social Research, LAR Center Press, vol. 3(5), pages 50-61, May.
    5. Claessens, Stijn & Kose, M. Ayhan, 2010. "The financial crisis of 2008-2009: Origins, issues, and prospects," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 21(3), pages 239-241, June.
    6. Lara Cathcart & Lina El-Jahel & Ravel Jabbour, 2017. "Basel II: an engine without brakes," Journal of Banking Regulation, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 18(4), pages 359-374, November.

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