We look at the role of credit ratings when assets are issued in a primary market and sold by dealers into a secondary, over-the-counter market in order to study regulatory proposals for rating agencies. Credit ratings are used to overcome a lemons problem. When the lemons problem is moderate,...

Can central counterparty (CCP) clearing control counterparty risk in the presence of risk taking that can aggravate such risk? When counterparty risk is not observable, I show that central clearing leads to higher collateral requirements for two different reasons. Without collusion about risk...

We develop a parsimonious model to study the equilibrium structure of over-the-counter securities markets. We show that regulations aimed at reducing counterparty risk and improving liquidity can be ineffcient. Such regulations have a direct positive effect on entry in those markets, thus...

We develop a parsimonious model to study the equilibrium structure of financial markets and its efficiency properties. We find that regulations aimed at improving market outcomes can cause inefficiencies. The welfare benefit of such regulation stems from endogenously improving market access for...

We develop a parsimonious model to study the equilibrium structure of over-the-counter securities markets. We show that regulations aimed at reducing counterparty risk and improving liquidity can be ineffcient. Such regulations have a direct positive effect on entry in those markets, thus...