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Review of Financial Studies Vol. 37 No. 4 2024

Stress Testing and Bank Lending

Joel Shapiro1; Jing Zeng2

1 Saïd Business School, University of Oxford , United Kingdom · 2 University of Bonn , Germany

open access

Abstract

Stress tests convey information about the strictness of future tests, creating incentives for banks to alter their future lending behavior. Regulators recognize and use this influence: they may conduct softer stress tests to encourage lending or tougher stress tests to reduce risk-taking. This information management can lead to inefficiencies when (a) the test loses credibility or (b) the test becomes self-fulfilling. In addition, banks may distort their lending behavior in anticipation of the stress test design, leading to further surplus losses. The analysis applies to banking supervision and regulation more broadly.

DOI
10.1093/rfs/hhad086
Volume
37
Issue
4
Pages
1265-1314
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

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