We document that the convenience yield of U.S. Treasuries exhibits properties that are consistent with a hedging perspective of safe assets. The convenience yield tends to be low when the covariance of Treasury returns with the aggregate stock market returns is high. A decomposition of the...

We examine the desirability of granting "safe harbor" provisions to creditors of financial intermediaries in sale-and-repurchase (repo) contracts. Exemption from an automatic stay in bankruptcy enables financial intermediaries to raise greater liquidity and induces entry of intermediaries with...

This paper studies a model in which a low monetary policy rate lowers the cost of capital for entrepreneurs, potentially spurring productive investment. Low interest rates, however, also induce entrepreneurs to lever up so as to increase payouts to equity. Whereas such leveraged payouts...

Over the past two decades, banks have increasingly focused on offering contingent credit in the form of credit lines as a primary means of corporate borrowing. We review the existing body of research regarding the rationales for banks' provision of liquidity insurance in the form of credit...

In recent years, assets of non-bank financial intermediaries (NBFIs) have grown significantly relative to those of banks. These two sectors are commonly viewed either as operating in parallel, performing different activities, or as substitutes, performing substantially similar activities, with...

We study the determinants of the growth of those non-deposit taking non-bank financial corporations (NBFCs) which are regarded by the Reserve Bank of India as being systemically important and have grown substantially in India over the past decade. We document that bank lending to NBFCs (i) forms...

We use portfolio theory to quantify the efficiency of state-level sectoral patterns of production in the United States. On the basis of observed growth in sectoral value-added output, we calculate for each state the efficient frontier for investments in the real economy. We study how rapidly...

Can banks maintain their advantage as liquidity providers when exposed to a financial crisis? While banks honored their credit lines drawn by firms during the 2007-09 crisis, this provision of liquidity by banks was only possible because of explicit, large support from the government and...

Can banks maintain their advantage as liquidity providers when exposed to a financial crisis? While banks honored their credit lines drawn by firms during the 2007-09 crisis, this provision of liquidity by banks was only possible because of explicit, large support from the government and...

Can banks maintain their advantage as liquidity providers when exposed to a financial crisis? While banks honored their credit lines drawn by firms during the 2007-09 crisis, this provision of liquidity by banks was only possible because of explicit, large support from the government and...