Alejandro Izquierdo Andrew Powell Research Department, IADB
Unlocking Credit Stylized Facts Crisis and Volatility Sudden Stops and Banking Crises Crisis Resolution Crisis Prevention Exit Rules Creditor Rights Industrial Structure The Policy Agenda
Unlocking Credit Stylized Facts Crisis and Volatility Sudden Stops and Banking Crises Crisis Resolution Crisis Prevention Exit Rules Creditor Rights Industrial Structure The Policy Agenda
Credit Depth in Latin America In Latin America, credit is  scarce  ... Note:  Simple average within regions. Mean Value for the 1990s. Source : World Bank data.
Credit Depth in Latin America ... especially in continental Latin America,  even controlling for the level of development
Interest Rate Margin Credit in Latin America is costly.   Note:  Simple average within regions. Mean Value for the 1990s. Source : IMF data.
Interest Rate Margin Low financial development is associated with high spreads.
Credit Volatility And credit is also  highly volatile
Credit Volatility ...credit volatility is related with an underdeveloped financial sector.
Recurring Banking Crises LAC is the region of the world with the  highest banking crisis recurrence
Banking Credit in Latin America No wonder, lack of credit is  firms’ concern  number 1 Moreover, access to credit is  restricted  for certain groups, in particular SMEs These characteristics of credit  limit  economic performance and poverty alleviation.
This Report ... Explores these characteristics of  banking credit  from three perspectives The effects of  crises , their resolution and prevention The impact of changes in the  structure  of the banking sector The role played by the  institutions  supporting credit markets
Unlocking Credit Stylized Facts Crisis and Volatility Sudden Stops and Banking Crises Crisis Resolution Crisis Prevention Exit Rules Creditor Rights Industrial Structure The Policy Agenda
Crisis and Volatility The  volatility  of the banking sector reflects a history of macroeconomic imbalances In many countries  dollarization  is high ...
Crisis and Volatility ... as well as  public sector debt holdings.
Unlocking Credit Stylized Facts Crisis and Volatility Sudden Stops and Banking Crises Crisis Resolution Crisis Prevention Exit Rules Creditor Rights Industrial Structure The Policy Agenda
Sudden Stops Despite contagion in capital markets,  the probability of a sudden stop depends on the interaction between the supply of tradable goods (a proxy for potential changes in relative prices) and the degree of dollarization
Sudden Stops Source: Calvo, Izquierdo and Mejia (2007) and own calculations. Both the size of the banking system as well as the dollar share of credit are key in determining the burden of dollarization (% of GDP) This type of measures brings Asia “closer” to Latin America  12.4 % Mexico 21.2 % Peru 11.9% Malaysia 4.0 % Chile 7.0 % Brazil 3.5 % Colombia 0.25 % Venezuela 19.5 % Argentina % of GDP LAC-7 27.4 % Thailand 32.0 % Philippines 8.5 % Korea 14.9 % Indonesia % of GDP Emerging Asia
 
Twin Crises This is highly relevant considering that  sudden stops and banking crises are another set of twins  (75% in dollarized countries)
Balance Sheets Abrupt changes in  relative prices  lead to government’s and non tradable firm’s  bankruptcies.
Unlocking Credit Stylized Facts Crisis and Volatility Sudden Stops and Banking Crises Crisis Resolution Crisis Prevention Exit Rules Creditor Rights Industrial Structure The Policy Agenda
Crisis Resolution: Basic Principles Principles Allocation of non-inflationary public funds Ensure risk takers bear a large fraction of restructuring costs Avoid gambling for resurrection Actions Reserve accumulation or foreign packages Discrimination among banks and depositors  Resolution of insolvent banks (private & public)
Unlocking Credit Stylized Facts Crisis and Volatility Sudden Stops and Banking Crises Crisis Resolution Crisis Prevention Exit Rules Creditor Rights Industrial Structure The Policy Agenda
Regulation and Supervision Regulation  and  supervision  have been weak in Latin America. However, the situation is improving….
Low Compliance with Basel Core Principles
Source: IMF-World Bank Financial Sector Assessment Program, Presentation A. de la Torre, WB Selected Countries: Improvements in BCP Compliance
Basel II Implementation (cont) Some countries fall between two stools Standardized approach does little to link capital to risk More advanced Internal Rating Based Approach (IRB) approach give too much autonomy to banks and are difficult to supervise I have suggested an intermediate Centralized Rating Based (CRB) Approach See Powell (2004) “Sailing Through the Sea of Standards” World Bank Policy Research Working Paper Series 3387 Majnoni and Powell (2005)  Bank Capital and Loan-Loss Reserves under Basel II: Implications for Latin America Economia  p105-149
Basel II Implementation (cont) Is Basel II a standard for 100 banks across G10 or for all banks in each G100? The US is keeping most banks on Basel I and may allow a handful to adopt the most advanced approaches but still uncertain… Some countries in LAC are staying with Basel I for now, but even here there are adaptations… China has said Basel I + = Basel I plus Operational Risk Some may allow some banks aspects of Basel II but there is a danger that the essence of a standard will be lost as countries adapt different elements
Market Discipline Market discipline is alive in Latin America Martinez Peria and Schmukler (2001): depositors run weak banks and demand higher interest rates. Galindo, Loboguerrero and Powell (2005): ….and banks react, shrinking assets and/or increasing capital Is the best/only form of discipline for banks? Berth, Caprio and Levine (2006) “Rethinking Banking Regulation: When Angels Govern…”  Need to ensure those that take risks bear costs… Basel II does not go far enough….
Market Discipline Basel II: Do the Pillars Balance?
Unlocking Credit Stylized Facts Crisis and Volatility Sudden Stops and Banking Crises Crisis Resolution Crisis Prevention Exit Rules Creditor Rights Industrial Structure The Policy Agenda
Bank Exit Rules Latin America has been introducing new exit rules for banks In the wake of the 1995 “Tequila crisis”, Argentina adopted a “least cost” resolution process for the deposit insurance fund. And the possibility of creating a “good bank” to be sold and a “bad bank” to be liquidated This idea has been catching on in several countries, to resolve problem banks quickly and avoid costly judicial procedures.
Unlocking Credit Stylized Facts Crisis and Volatility Sudden Stops and Banking Crises Crisis Resolution Crisis Prevention Exit Rules Creditor Rights Industrial Structure The Policy Agenda
The Role of Institutions:  Weak Creditor Rights in LAC
The Role of Institutions:  Creditor Rights Creditor rights  in LAC are  weak .  Regulations  in favor of debtors  during bankruptcy.  Courts  are  inefficient  (bankruptcy procedure, 4 years) Obstacles to  recover collateral Improving  creditor rights can: increase financial depth  (by 15% of GDP) reduce credit volatility  by nearly half... and  increase access to credit by SMEs  by at least 15%. However, reform is  difficult to implement . Banks are seen as bad, but weak creditor rights implies no credit market hurting good borrowers.
The Role of Institutions:  Creditor Rights
The Role of Institutions:  Creditor Rights
The Role of Institutions:  Creditor Rights
Unlocking Credit Stylized Facts Crisis and Volatility Sudden Stops and Banking Crises Crisis Resolution Crisis Prevention Exit Rules Creditor Rights Industrial Structure The Policy Agenda
Banking System Structure: Consolidation  Following the banking crises of the 1980’s and 1990’s, and financial liberalization, there has been massive consolidation in the banking industry But concentration has not reduced  competition. Higher concentration reduces  NIM and overhead costs. Concentration has reduced credit volatility, increased access to credit, and eased supervision.
Banking System Structure: The Role of Information  Normally would talk about improving credit information in terms of improving credit access or reducing non performing loans. But information plays a critical part in determining the industrial structure of banks too. Latin American financial systems are characterized by poor information flows, high swtiching costs and local monopoly power, this implies a structure of many, smaller banks with high overheads.  As information improves, competition is enhanced and overheads must decline, concentration and lower spreads follow.
Banking System Structure: Foreign Banks  There has been a drastic change in bank ownership in favor of  foreign banks . More than 50% foreign owenership in Argentina, Chile, Mexico and Peru
Banking System Structure: Foreign Banks  Foreign banking has: Increased efficiency  (lower interest rate margins) Had  mixed results  in other areas: There is controversy as to whether credit  access  has increased, particularly to SME’s. Has made credit  less vulnerable to liquidity shocks , but potentially  more vulnerable to productivity shocks Raises difficult questions regarding supervision
Banking System Structure: Public Banking  Public banks have  reduced  their participation in LAC through both sale and competition as private banks have grown faster
Banking System Structure: Public Banking  But public banking has remains an  important share  of total banking: Public banks enjoy  strong political support  ... They appear to be  inefficient  (high operating costs) And have low portfolio quality and Have low deposit rates due to  implicit government guarantee  and implying a  hidden fiscal liability . Performance should be measured against their mandate, but few countries are explicit about what that is and fewer have targets and evaluations. Tellingly they do not appear to lend more to SMEs  nor to sectors that would accord with the “social mandate”.
Unlocking Credit Stylized Facts Crisis and Volatility Sudden Stops and Banking Crises Crisis Resolution Crisis Prevention Exit Rules Creditor Rights Industrial Structure The Policy Agenda
Policy Agenda Plan ahead to avoid crises Enhanced regulation and supervision, especially in the upswing, lean against the wind. Control credit booms and asset price bubbles. Self insurance or programs with multilaterals to reduce the probability of a Sudden Stop or reduce impact. Reduce risks with incentives to dedollarize and the creation of hedging markets. Dedollarization is not easy requires a concerted approach with monetary policy and prudential regulation
Policy Agenda Pay for your sins: Crisis resolution  processes must ensure that the parties that took higher risks bear the costs.  Explicit, limited deposit insurance and appropriate exit rules for banks. Play safe: Financial regulation needs to  appropriately measure credit risks  (including the treatment of dollar loans and government debt) to determine  safe levels of capital- adequacy ratios and provisions .  Supervision has improved but Basel II adoption poses many  challenges  for region. Foreign Banks can play an important role, must consider their supervision very carefully.
Policy Agenda Define the government’s business : The role of government in commercial banking needs to be defined by  specifying the objectives of public banks and evaluating whether they are met in a cost effective manner . Design the right financial environment : Increasing creditor protection requires a serious reform of  secured transaction laws  and enhancing judicial efficiency. The creation of specialized courts to deal with collateral claims may play a role.
Alejandro Izquierdo Andrew Powell Research Department, IADB

20070612150756-0

  • 1.
    Alejandro Izquierdo AndrewPowell Research Department, IADB
  • 2.
    Unlocking Credit StylizedFacts Crisis and Volatility Sudden Stops and Banking Crises Crisis Resolution Crisis Prevention Exit Rules Creditor Rights Industrial Structure The Policy Agenda
  • 3.
    Unlocking Credit StylizedFacts Crisis and Volatility Sudden Stops and Banking Crises Crisis Resolution Crisis Prevention Exit Rules Creditor Rights Industrial Structure The Policy Agenda
  • 4.
    Credit Depth inLatin America In Latin America, credit is scarce ... Note: Simple average within regions. Mean Value for the 1990s. Source : World Bank data.
  • 5.
    Credit Depth inLatin America ... especially in continental Latin America, even controlling for the level of development
  • 6.
    Interest Rate MarginCredit in Latin America is costly. Note: Simple average within regions. Mean Value for the 1990s. Source : IMF data.
  • 7.
    Interest Rate MarginLow financial development is associated with high spreads.
  • 8.
    Credit Volatility Andcredit is also highly volatile
  • 9.
    Credit Volatility ...creditvolatility is related with an underdeveloped financial sector.
  • 10.
    Recurring Banking CrisesLAC is the region of the world with the highest banking crisis recurrence
  • 11.
    Banking Credit inLatin America No wonder, lack of credit is firms’ concern number 1 Moreover, access to credit is restricted for certain groups, in particular SMEs These characteristics of credit limit economic performance and poverty alleviation.
  • 12.
    This Report ...Explores these characteristics of banking credit from three perspectives The effects of crises , their resolution and prevention The impact of changes in the structure of the banking sector The role played by the institutions supporting credit markets
  • 13.
    Unlocking Credit StylizedFacts Crisis and Volatility Sudden Stops and Banking Crises Crisis Resolution Crisis Prevention Exit Rules Creditor Rights Industrial Structure The Policy Agenda
  • 14.
    Crisis and VolatilityThe volatility of the banking sector reflects a history of macroeconomic imbalances In many countries dollarization is high ...
  • 15.
    Crisis and Volatility... as well as public sector debt holdings.
  • 16.
    Unlocking Credit StylizedFacts Crisis and Volatility Sudden Stops and Banking Crises Crisis Resolution Crisis Prevention Exit Rules Creditor Rights Industrial Structure The Policy Agenda
  • 17.
    Sudden Stops Despitecontagion in capital markets, the probability of a sudden stop depends on the interaction between the supply of tradable goods (a proxy for potential changes in relative prices) and the degree of dollarization
  • 18.
    Sudden Stops Source:Calvo, Izquierdo and Mejia (2007) and own calculations. Both the size of the banking system as well as the dollar share of credit are key in determining the burden of dollarization (% of GDP) This type of measures brings Asia “closer” to Latin America 12.4 % Mexico 21.2 % Peru 11.9% Malaysia 4.0 % Chile 7.0 % Brazil 3.5 % Colombia 0.25 % Venezuela 19.5 % Argentina % of GDP LAC-7 27.4 % Thailand 32.0 % Philippines 8.5 % Korea 14.9 % Indonesia % of GDP Emerging Asia
  • 19.
  • 20.
    Twin Crises Thisis highly relevant considering that sudden stops and banking crises are another set of twins (75% in dollarized countries)
  • 21.
    Balance Sheets Abruptchanges in relative prices lead to government’s and non tradable firm’s bankruptcies.
  • 22.
    Unlocking Credit StylizedFacts Crisis and Volatility Sudden Stops and Banking Crises Crisis Resolution Crisis Prevention Exit Rules Creditor Rights Industrial Structure The Policy Agenda
  • 23.
    Crisis Resolution: BasicPrinciples Principles Allocation of non-inflationary public funds Ensure risk takers bear a large fraction of restructuring costs Avoid gambling for resurrection Actions Reserve accumulation or foreign packages Discrimination among banks and depositors Resolution of insolvent banks (private & public)
  • 24.
    Unlocking Credit StylizedFacts Crisis and Volatility Sudden Stops and Banking Crises Crisis Resolution Crisis Prevention Exit Rules Creditor Rights Industrial Structure The Policy Agenda
  • 25.
    Regulation and SupervisionRegulation and supervision have been weak in Latin America. However, the situation is improving….
  • 26.
    Low Compliance withBasel Core Principles
  • 27.
    Source: IMF-World BankFinancial Sector Assessment Program, Presentation A. de la Torre, WB Selected Countries: Improvements in BCP Compliance
  • 28.
    Basel II Implementation(cont) Some countries fall between two stools Standardized approach does little to link capital to risk More advanced Internal Rating Based Approach (IRB) approach give too much autonomy to banks and are difficult to supervise I have suggested an intermediate Centralized Rating Based (CRB) Approach See Powell (2004) “Sailing Through the Sea of Standards” World Bank Policy Research Working Paper Series 3387 Majnoni and Powell (2005) Bank Capital and Loan-Loss Reserves under Basel II: Implications for Latin America Economia p105-149
  • 29.
    Basel II Implementation(cont) Is Basel II a standard for 100 banks across G10 or for all banks in each G100? The US is keeping most banks on Basel I and may allow a handful to adopt the most advanced approaches but still uncertain… Some countries in LAC are staying with Basel I for now, but even here there are adaptations… China has said Basel I + = Basel I plus Operational Risk Some may allow some banks aspects of Basel II but there is a danger that the essence of a standard will be lost as countries adapt different elements
  • 30.
    Market Discipline Marketdiscipline is alive in Latin America Martinez Peria and Schmukler (2001): depositors run weak banks and demand higher interest rates. Galindo, Loboguerrero and Powell (2005): ….and banks react, shrinking assets and/or increasing capital Is the best/only form of discipline for banks? Berth, Caprio and Levine (2006) “Rethinking Banking Regulation: When Angels Govern…” Need to ensure those that take risks bear costs… Basel II does not go far enough….
  • 31.
    Market Discipline BaselII: Do the Pillars Balance?
  • 32.
    Unlocking Credit StylizedFacts Crisis and Volatility Sudden Stops and Banking Crises Crisis Resolution Crisis Prevention Exit Rules Creditor Rights Industrial Structure The Policy Agenda
  • 33.
    Bank Exit RulesLatin America has been introducing new exit rules for banks In the wake of the 1995 “Tequila crisis”, Argentina adopted a “least cost” resolution process for the deposit insurance fund. And the possibility of creating a “good bank” to be sold and a “bad bank” to be liquidated This idea has been catching on in several countries, to resolve problem banks quickly and avoid costly judicial procedures.
  • 34.
    Unlocking Credit StylizedFacts Crisis and Volatility Sudden Stops and Banking Crises Crisis Resolution Crisis Prevention Exit Rules Creditor Rights Industrial Structure The Policy Agenda
  • 35.
    The Role ofInstitutions: Weak Creditor Rights in LAC
  • 36.
    The Role ofInstitutions: Creditor Rights Creditor rights in LAC are weak . Regulations in favor of debtors during bankruptcy. Courts are inefficient (bankruptcy procedure, 4 years) Obstacles to recover collateral Improving creditor rights can: increase financial depth (by 15% of GDP) reduce credit volatility by nearly half... and increase access to credit by SMEs by at least 15%. However, reform is difficult to implement . Banks are seen as bad, but weak creditor rights implies no credit market hurting good borrowers.
  • 37.
    The Role ofInstitutions: Creditor Rights
  • 38.
    The Role ofInstitutions: Creditor Rights
  • 39.
    The Role ofInstitutions: Creditor Rights
  • 40.
    Unlocking Credit StylizedFacts Crisis and Volatility Sudden Stops and Banking Crises Crisis Resolution Crisis Prevention Exit Rules Creditor Rights Industrial Structure The Policy Agenda
  • 41.
    Banking System Structure:Consolidation Following the banking crises of the 1980’s and 1990’s, and financial liberalization, there has been massive consolidation in the banking industry But concentration has not reduced competition. Higher concentration reduces NIM and overhead costs. Concentration has reduced credit volatility, increased access to credit, and eased supervision.
  • 42.
    Banking System Structure:The Role of Information Normally would talk about improving credit information in terms of improving credit access or reducing non performing loans. But information plays a critical part in determining the industrial structure of banks too. Latin American financial systems are characterized by poor information flows, high swtiching costs and local monopoly power, this implies a structure of many, smaller banks with high overheads. As information improves, competition is enhanced and overheads must decline, concentration and lower spreads follow.
  • 43.
    Banking System Structure:Foreign Banks There has been a drastic change in bank ownership in favor of foreign banks . More than 50% foreign owenership in Argentina, Chile, Mexico and Peru
  • 44.
    Banking System Structure:Foreign Banks Foreign banking has: Increased efficiency (lower interest rate margins) Had mixed results in other areas: There is controversy as to whether credit access has increased, particularly to SME’s. Has made credit less vulnerable to liquidity shocks , but potentially more vulnerable to productivity shocks Raises difficult questions regarding supervision
  • 45.
    Banking System Structure:Public Banking Public banks have reduced their participation in LAC through both sale and competition as private banks have grown faster
  • 46.
    Banking System Structure:Public Banking But public banking has remains an important share of total banking: Public banks enjoy strong political support ... They appear to be inefficient (high operating costs) And have low portfolio quality and Have low deposit rates due to implicit government guarantee and implying a hidden fiscal liability . Performance should be measured against their mandate, but few countries are explicit about what that is and fewer have targets and evaluations. Tellingly they do not appear to lend more to SMEs nor to sectors that would accord with the “social mandate”.
  • 47.
    Unlocking Credit StylizedFacts Crisis and Volatility Sudden Stops and Banking Crises Crisis Resolution Crisis Prevention Exit Rules Creditor Rights Industrial Structure The Policy Agenda
  • 48.
    Policy Agenda Planahead to avoid crises Enhanced regulation and supervision, especially in the upswing, lean against the wind. Control credit booms and asset price bubbles. Self insurance or programs with multilaterals to reduce the probability of a Sudden Stop or reduce impact. Reduce risks with incentives to dedollarize and the creation of hedging markets. Dedollarization is not easy requires a concerted approach with monetary policy and prudential regulation
  • 49.
    Policy Agenda Payfor your sins: Crisis resolution processes must ensure that the parties that took higher risks bear the costs. Explicit, limited deposit insurance and appropriate exit rules for banks. Play safe: Financial regulation needs to appropriately measure credit risks (including the treatment of dollar loans and government debt) to determine safe levels of capital- adequacy ratios and provisions . Supervision has improved but Basel II adoption poses many challenges for region. Foreign Banks can play an important role, must consider their supervision very carefully.
  • 50.
    Policy Agenda Definethe government’s business : The role of government in commercial banking needs to be defined by specifying the objectives of public banks and evaluating whether they are met in a cost effective manner . Design the right financial environment : Increasing creditor protection requires a serious reform of secured transaction laws and enhancing judicial efficiency. The creation of specialized courts to deal with collateral claims may play a role.
  • 51.
    Alejandro Izquierdo AndrewPowell Research Department, IADB