This white paper was commissioned by the Council of Institutional Investors for the purpose of educating its members, policymakers, and the general public about important credit rating agency regulation proposals and their potential impact on investors. It offers an institutional investor...

Credit ratings have contributed to the current financial crisis. Proposals to regulate credit rating agencies focus on micro-prudential issues and aim at reducing conflicts of interest and increasing transparency and competition. In contrast, this paper argues that macro-prudential regulation is...

Credit ratings have contributed to the current financial crisis. Proposals to regulate credit rating agencies focus on micro-prudential issues and aim at reducing conflicts of interest and increasing transparency and competition. In contrast, this paper argues that macro-prudential regulation is...

This short note explores the formal introduction of the leading credit rating agencies into the field of sustainable finance and all that comes with that moniker. In 2016, the leading agencies announced their plans to incorporate ‘Environmental, Social, and Governance' concerns into their...

With 2016 providing arguably the most politically tumultuous year in recent history, the need for vigilance in the marketplace has never been greater. The proximity to the recent Financial Crisis means that any undeserved leniency now may have dramatic and irreversible effects. In this short...

Moody's analysts and sell-side equity analysts adjust GAAP earnings as part of their research. We show that adjusted earnings definitions of Moody's analysts are significantly lower than those of equity analysts when companies exhibit higher downside risk, as measured by volatility in...

During 1990-2015, the global auditing/accounting industry experienced significant structural changes that have implications for Financial Stability, systemic risk and the proper functioning of capital markets. Some of the results included the collapses of stock prices and bond prices of firms...

Purpose: Sigma Ratings is a new entrant to the AML marketplace and seeks to alleviate some of the inherent flaws within the AML regime. This paper exists to examine those flaws and ask whether Sigma may succeed in this bourgeoning marketplace.Design/Methodology: This paper is based upon a...