We explore an inconsistency in the Basel Committee's Internal Ratings Based (IRB) rules: the IRB rules on corporate loans were calibrated to loan-level data, while the IRB rules on small business loans were calibrated with little, if any, information on small business loans. We argue that the...

We explore an inconsistency in the Basel Committee's Internal Ratings Based (IRB) rules: the IRB rules on corporate loans were calibrated to loan-level data, while the IRB rules on small business loans were calibrated with little, if any, information on small business loans. We argue that the...

The financing of small and medium-sized firms is important for the catching-up of the East German to the West German economy since reunification. We explore whether it is restricted by unfavorable bank loan terms, using bank-survey data on lending decisions to small and medium- sized firms. A...

We analyze the relationship between bank size and risk-taking under the New Basel Capital Accord. Using a model with imperfect competition and moral hazard, we show that the introduction of an internal ratings based (IRB) approach improves upon flat capital requirements if the approach is...