It has been argued that underpriced federal deposit insurance provides incentive for insured institutions to increase the value of shareholder equity by expanding into activities that shift risk onto the deposit insurer. Derivative instruments have been used by firms to change their risk...

This paper analyzes how financial markets reacted to S&L diversification into junk bonds. The authors report that junk bond holdings are positively correlated with both the volatility of S&L equity returns and the interest rates paid on large CDs. Next, they examine the impact of junk bonds on...

Risk exposure is a central issue in the continuing debate over the wisdom of allowing bank holding companies to expand into nonbank activities. This paper examines the relation between bank holding company risk and the composition of nonbank assets. The empirical evidence indicates that risk is...

In this book, policymakers, academics and market practitioners exchange views on the current economic situation, appropriate financial regulatory and supervisory standards, design of financial market institutions, and efficient safety nets for banks and other financial institutions. This volume...

This paper analyzes the consequences of alternative financial structures for financial efficiency and stability. The focus is on the organizational structure of banks. Alternative bank structures range from 'narrow banks' to broad 'universal banks.' Each banking structure is assessed in its...

At year-end 1991, Congress enacted fundamental deposit insurance reform for banks and thrifts--the FDIC Improvement Act. This reform followed the failure of more than 2,000 depository institutions in the 1980s. Many failed because the incentive incompatibility of the structure of federal...