Risk-shifting occurs when creditors or guarantors are exposed to loss without receiving adequate compensation. This paper seeks to measure and compare how well authorities in 56 countries controlled bank risk shifting during the 1990s. Although significant risk shifting occurs on average,...

We examine the effectiveness of bank regulation in the light of creditor diversity. Our theory suggests a bank can increase its value by matching the riskiness of its securities and the risk tolerance of its diverse creditors. Even a well-capitalized bank might not eliminate financial fragility...