Traditional monetary theory has largely ignored the role ofbank equity. Bank-centered accounts of how monetarypolicy affects the real economy usually focus on the role ofreserves and reserve requirements in determining the volumeof demand deposits and, in the case of the bank lendingchannel,...

The boom in nonprime mortgage lending that occurred inthe United States between 2004 and 2006 was quicklyfollowed by rapid increases in the rate of delinquencies andforeclosures on these loans.1 This pronounced deteriorationalarmed investors, the public, and policymakers.2...