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Credit Risk and the Instability of the Financial System: an Ensemble Approach

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Listed:
  • Thilo A. Schmitt
  • Desislava Chetalova
  • Rudi Schafer
  • Thomas Guhr

Abstract

The instability of the financial system as experienced in recent years and in previous periods is often linked to credit defaults, i.e., to the failure of obligors to make promised payments. Given the large number of credit contracts, this problem is amenable to be treated with approaches developed in statistical physics. We introduce the idea of ensemble averaging and thereby uncover generic features of credit risk. We then show that the often advertised concept of diversification, i.e., reducing the risk by distributing it, is deeply flawed when it comes to credit risk. The risk of extreme losses remain due to the ever present correlations, implying a substantial and persistent intrinsic danger to the financial system.

Suggested Citation

  • Thilo A. Schmitt & Desislava Chetalova & Rudi Schafer & Thomas Guhr, 2013. "Credit Risk and the Instability of the Financial System: an Ensemble Approach," Papers 1309.5245, arXiv.org, revised Nov 2013.
    • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:1309.5245
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    Cited by:

    1. Thomas Guhr & Andreas Schell, 2020. "Exact Multivariate Amplitude Distributions for Non-Stationary Gaussian or Algebraic Fluctuations of Covariances or Correlations," Papers 2011.07570, arXiv.org.

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