Credit ratings have contributed to the current financial crisis. Proposals to regulate credit rating agencies focus on micro-prudential issues and aim at reducing conflicts of interest and increasing transparency and competition. In contrast, this paper argues that macro-prudential regulation is...

Intro -- Contents -- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY -- I. INTRODUCTION -- II. A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THEORY -- III. MEASURING FINANCIAL OPENNESS -- IV. PATTERNS OF FINANCIAL GLOBALIZATION -- V. MACROECONOMIC EVIDENCE ON EFFECTS OF FINANCIAL GLOBALIZATION -- VI. HOW DOES THE COMPOSITION OF CAPITAL FLOWS MATTER?...