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Credit Ratings and Market Information

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  • Shapiro, Joel
  • Piccolo, Alessio

Abstract

How does market information affect credit ratings? How do credit ratings affect market information? We analyze a model in which a credit rating agency's (CRA's) rating is followed by a market for credit risk that provides a public signal - the price. A more accurate rating decreases market informativeness, as it diminishes mispricing and, hence, incentives for investor information acquisition. On the other hand, more-informative trading increases CRA accuracy incentives by making rating inflation more transparent. If the first effect is strong, policies that increase reputational sanctions on CRAs decrease rating inflation, but also decrease the total amount of information.

Suggested Citation

  • Shapiro, Joel & Piccolo, Alessio, 2017. "Credit Ratings and Market Information," CEPR Discussion Papers 11961, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:11961
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Goldman, Eitan & Martel, Jordan & Schneemeier, Jan, 2022. "A theory of financial media," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(1), pages 239-258.
    3. Basu, Kaushik & Sun, Haokun, 2022. "The power and influence of rating agencies with insights into their misuse," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    4. Yung‐Ling Chi & Sean Flynn, 2022. "The impact of credit rating information on disclosure quality," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 51(1), pages 73-115, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Credit ratings;

    JEL classification:

    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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