We extract from the yield curve a new measure of fundamental economic uncertainty, based on McDiarmid's distance and related methods for optimal uncertainty quantification (OUQ). OUQ seeks analytical bounds on a system's behavior, even where the underlying data-generating process and system...

Investor aversion to risk varies over the course of the economic cycle. In the current recovery, the rebound in risk-taking is near the top of the historical range. The pace of economic growth does not appear to explain the increase in risk appetite. However, statistical research suggests that...

This paper reviews the literature on the effects of combining banking and nonbank financial activities on banking organizations' risk and return. In general, securities activities, insurance agency, and insurance underwriting are all riskier and more profitable than banking activities. They also...

This paper examines the properties of X-inefficiency and the relations of X-inefficiency with risk-taking and stock returns for U.S. banking firms. After controlling for scale differences, the average small size banking firm is found to be relatively less efficient than the average large firm....

Under the strong-form of market discipline, publicly traded banks that have constantly available public market signals from their stock (and bond) prices would take less risk than non-publicly traded banks because counterparties, borrowers, and regulators could react to adverse public market...

This paper examines the properties of X-inefficiencies in U.S. banking firms. We find that, after controlling for scale differences, the average small size banking firm is less efficient than the aerate large firm. Smaller firms also exhibit higher variation in X-inefficiencies than their larger...