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Bank Leverage and Monetary Policy’s Risk-Taking Channel: Evidence from the United States

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  • Laeven, Luc
  • Dell'Ariccia, Giovanni
  • Suarez, Gustavo

Abstract

We present evidence of a risk-taking channel of monetary policy for the U.S. banking system. We use confidential data on banks’ internal ratings on loans to businesses over the period 1997 to 2011 from the Federal Reserve’s survey of terms of business lending. We find that ex-ante risk taking by banks (measured by the risk rating of new loans) is negatively associated with increases in short-term interest rates. This relationship is more pronounced in regions that are less in sync with the nationwide business cycle, and less pronounced for banks with relatively low capital or during periods of financial distress.

Suggested Citation

  • Laeven, Luc & Dell'Ariccia, Giovanni & Suarez, Gustavo, 2016. "Bank Leverage and Monetary Policy’s Risk-Taking Channel: Evidence from the United States," CEPR Discussion Papers 11230, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:11230
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Interest rates; Monetary policy; Banks; Leverage; Risk;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E43 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Interest Rates: Determination, Term Structure, and Effects
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages

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