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On Risk, Leverage and Banks: Do highly Leveraged Banks take on Excessive Risk?

Author

Listed:
  • Martin Koudstaal

    (Double Effect)

  • Sweder van Wijnbergen

    (University of Amsterdam)

Abstract

This paper deals with the relation between excessive risk taking and capital structure in banks. Examining a quarterly dataset of U.S. banks between 1993 and 2010, we find that equity is valued higher when more risky portfolios are chosen when leverage is high, and that more risk taking has a negative impact on valuation of the debt of highly leveraged banks. We find no evidence that deposit insurance is encouraging risk taking behaviour. We do find that banks with a more troubled loan portfolio take on more risk. Banks whose share price has slumped tend to gamblefor resurrection by increasing the riskiness of their asset portfolios. The results suggest that incentives embedded in the capital structure of banks contribute to systemic fragility, and so support the Basel III proposals towards less leverage and higher loss absorption capacity of capital.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Koudstaal & Sweder van Wijnbergen, 2012. "On Risk, Leverage and Banks: Do highly Leveraged Banks take on Excessive Risk?," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 12-022/2/DSF31, Tinbergen Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:tin:wpaper:20120022
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ibrahim, Mansor H. & Rizvi, Syed Aun R., 2018. "Bank lending, deposits and risk-taking in times of crisis: A panel analysis of Islamic and conventional banks," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 31-47.
    2. Muhammad Umar & Gang Sun, 2016. "Non-performing loans (NPLs), liquidity creation, and moral hazard: Case of Chinese banks," China Finance and Economic Review, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 1-23, December.
    3. Anureet Virk Sidhu & Shailesh Rastogi & Rajani Gupte & Venkata Mrudula Bhimavarapu, 2022. "Impact of Liquidity Coverage Ratio on Performance of Select Indian Banks," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-17, May.
    4. Zhang, Dayong & Cai, Jing & Dickinson, David G. & Kutan, Ali M., 2016. "Non-performing loans, moral hazard and regulation of the Chinese commercial banking system," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 48-60.
    5. Vincenzo D'Apice & Franco Fiordelisi & Giovanni W. Puopolo, 2020. "Judicial Efficiency and Lending Quality," CSEF Working Papers 588, Centre for Studies in Economics and Finance (CSEF), University of Naples, Italy.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    bank fragility; risk shifting; deposit insurance; gambles for resurrection;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

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