How can fire sales for financial assets happen when the economy contains well capitalized, but non-specialist investors? Our explanation combines rational expectations equilibrium and "lemons" models. When specialist (informed) market participants are liquidity-constrained, prices become less...

A commitment to an ex-post inefficient bailout can be ex-ante optimal because it can mitigate rollover problems without an actual bailout. Reinforcement between illiquidity and insolvency create beneficial multiplier effects that overwhelm the adverse effect of moral hazard. Committing to bail...