This paper shows that banks use accounting discretion to overstate the value of distressed assets. Banks' balance sheets overvalue real estate-related assets compared to the market value of these assets, especially during the U.S. mortgage crisis. Share prices of banks with large exposure to...

This paper links the current sub-prime mortgage crisis to a decline in lending standards associated with the rapid expansion of this market. We show that lending standards declined more in areas that experienced larger credit booms and house price increases. We also find that the underlying...

Intro -- Contents -- Foreword -- Glossary -- 1 Introduction -- 2 A Primer on Systemic Risk -- 3 Systemic Risk: A Theoretical Framework -- 4 The Buildup of Financial Imbalances -- 5 Contagion -- 6 Systemic Risk and the Real Costs of FinancialCrises -- 7 Measuring Systemic Risk -- 8 Systemic Risk...