The paper analyzes a very stylized model of crises and demonstrates how the degree of strategic complementarity in the actions of investors is a critical determinant of fragility. It is shown how the balance sheet composition of a financial intermediary, parameters of the information structure...

We consider contracts to purchase assets by means of streams of payments over time, with the asset as security. These give the purchaser an option not present if all payment is made up front, the option of stopping payments and delivering the asset in satisfaction of the remaining debt. We argue...

The goal of this paper is to explore the model risk inherent in the rating and design of structured finance products. We seek to illustrate the consequences of neglecting state-dependent correlations on the methodologies and criteria employed by the major ratings agencies. In contrast to related...