Evaluating the quality of credit portfolio risk models is an important issue for both banks and regulators. Lopez and Saidenberg (2000) suggest cross-sectional resampling techniques in order to make efficient use of available data. We show that their proposal disregards cross-sectional...

Using an asset-based model of default, I derive rating characteristics if ratings are meant to look 'through the cycle' as opposed to being based on the borrowers' current condition. The through-the-cycle method, which is employed by most rating agencies, requires a separation of permanent and...

We propose a Bayesian methodology that enables banks to improve their credit scoring models by imposing prior information. As prior information, we use coefficients from credit scoring models estimated on other data sets. Through simulations, we explore the default prediction power of three...

We analyse whether different levels of country ties to Europe among the rating agencies Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch affect the assignment of sovereign credit ratings, using the Eurozone sovereign debt crisis of 2009-2012 as a natural laboratory. We find that Fitch, the rating agency among the "Big...

This paper examines whether the stock price of the rating agency Moody’s reacts negatively to rating actions that could indicate low rating quality. The reaction to rating reversals, which Moody’s describes as particularly damaging to investors, is economically significant. It suggests that...