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on Regulation |
| By: | Ralf Bebenroth (Research Institute for Economics and Business Administration, Kobe University); Diemo Dietrich (Halle Institute for Economic Research); Uwe Vollmer (University of Leipzig) |
| Abstract: | This paper describes and compares the regulation and supervision of banks in Japan and Germany. We have chosen these countries because they have both bank-dominated financial systems and belong to the same law tradition, yet, bank stability differs significantly. We ask to what extent these countries follow best practice regulations in banking and whether differences in banking stability and efficiency can be explained by regulatory and supervisory differences. We argue that bank regulation and supervision are less efficient in Japan than in Germany and show why Japan and Germany have made different regulatory and supervisory choices. |
| Keywords: | Bank regulation and supervision, Banking stability and banking efficiency, deposit insurance, Lender of last resort, Forbearance, Japan and Germany |
| JEL: | G21 G32 |
| Date: | 2007–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:kob:dpaper:211&r=reg |
| By: | Anger, Niels; Böhringer, Christoph; Oberndorfer, Ulrich |
| Abstract: | This paper presents a political-economy analysis of allowance allocation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). A common-agency model suggests that a politicalsupport maximizing government considers the preferences of sectoral interest groups besides public interest when allocating emissions permits. In the stylized model, industries represented by more powerful lobby groups face a lower regulatory burden, which for sufficiently high lobbying power leads to an inefficient emissions regulation. An empirical analysis of the first trading phase of the EU ETS corroborates our theoretical prediction for a cross-section of German firms, but also shows that the political-economy determinants of permit allocation depend on firm characteristics. We find that large carbon emitters that were heavily exposed to emissions regulation and simultaneously represented by powerful interest groups received higher levels of emissions allowances. In contrast, industrial lobbying power stand-alone or threats of potential worker layoffs did not exert a significant influence on the EU ETS allocation process. |
| Keywords: | Emissions trading, interest groups, regression analysis |
| JEL: | C10 P16 Q58 |
| Date: | 2008 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:zewdip:7295&r=reg |
| By: | Breuer, Thomas; Jandacka, Martin; Rheinberger, Klaus; Summer, Martin |
| Abstract: | In the work of the Basel Committee there has been a tradition of distinguishing market from credit risk and to treat both categories independently in the calculation of risk capital. In practice positions in a portfolio depend simultaneously on both market and credit risk factors. In this case, an approximation of the portfolio value function splitting value changes into a pure market risk plus pure credit risk component can lead to underestimation of risk. It can therefore not be argued that the current regulatory approach would always be conservative from a risk assessment perspective. We discuss this fact in the context of foreign currency loans and argue that under the traditional regulatory approach the true risk of a portfolio of foreign currency loans would be significantly underestimated. Unter der ersten Säule von Basel II wird das regulatorische Eigenkapital für Markt- und Kreditrisiko separat berechnet. Wenn wir vom operationalen Risiko absehen, errechnet sich das gesamte regulatorische Eigenkapital aus der Summe des Eigenkapitals, das für Markt- und Kreditrisiko zu hinterlegen ist. Diese Berechnung von Einzelkomponenten des regulatorischen Kapitals folgt in groben Zügen der Aufteilung in Bank- und Handelsbuch. In der traditionellen Denkweise ist Kreditrisiko hauptsächlich relevant in Bezug auf das Bankbuch während Marktrisiko als hauptsächlich relevant für das Handelsbuch angesehen wird. Diese Denkweise steht vermutlich auch hinter der weit verbreiteten Ansicht, dass die Aufsummierung von Kapitalkomponenten für einzelne Risikokategorien konservativ sei. Werden nämlich Bank- und Handelsbuch als Subportfolios des gesamten Bankportfolios gesehen, ergibt die Aufsummierung der einzelnen regulatorischen Kapitalkomponenten aufgrund eines Diversifikationsarguments eine obere Schranke für das regulatorische Eigenkapital. Wir behaupten, dass in vielen praktischen Risikobewertungssituationen eine Trennung von Markt- und Kreditrisiko anhand von Bank- und Handelsbuch nicht möglich ist. Wir zeigen, dass das Diversifizierungsargument aber nur dann gilt, wenn eine solche Aufteilung möglich ist. Nur dann, wenn das Bankportfolio separierbar ist in ein Subportfolio, das nur von Marktrisikofaktoren, nicht aber von Kreditrisikofaktoren abhängt und in ein Subportfolio, das nur von Kreditrisikofaktoren, nicht aber von Marktrisikofaktoren abhängt, ist das tatsächlich benötigte regulatorische Kapital kleiner oder gleich der Summe des Kapitals für Markt und Kreditrisiko. Ist diese Separation nicht möglich, kann unter dem Verfahren von Säule 1 das regulatorische Eigenkapital unterschätzt werden. Wir zeigen, dass in vielen Situationen Portfoliopositionen sowohl von Markt- als auch vom Kreditrisiko abhängen. In einer solchen Situation führt die traditionelle Berechnung des regulatorischen Eigenkapitals zu einer falschen Portfoliobewertung und als Konsequenz zu einer falschen Risikoeinschätzung. Wir zeigen anhand des Beispiels von Fremdwährungskrediten, dass diese Fehleinschätzung quantitativ bedeutend sein kann und zu einer schweren Unterschätzung des wahren Portfoliorisikos führt. |
| Keywords: | integrated analysis of market and credit risk, risk management, foreign currency loans, banking regulation |
| JEL: | C15 G20 G28 G32 |
| Date: | 2008 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:bubdp2:7324&r=reg |
| By: | Alberto ZAZZARO (Universita' Politecnica delle Marche, Dipartimento di Economia); David BARTOLINI ([n.a.]) |
| Abstract: | A well-established result of the theory of antitrust policy is that it might be optimal to tolerate some degree of collusion among firms if the Authority in charge is constrained by limited resources and imperfect information. However, few doubts are cast on the common opinion by which stricter enforcement of antitrust laws definitely makes market structure more competitive and prices lower. In this paper we challenge this presumption of effectiveness and show that the introduction of a positive (expected) antitrust fine may drive firms from partial cartels to a monopolistic cartel. Moreover, introducing uncertainty on market demand, we show that the social optimal competition policy can call for a finite or even zero antitrust penalty even if there are no enforcement costs. We first show our results in a Cournot industry with five symmetric firms and equilibrium binding agreements. Then we extend the analysis to the case of n symmetric firms and a generic rule of coalition formation. Finally, we consider the case of asymmetric firms and show that our results still hold for an industry populated by one Stackelberg leader and two followers. |
| Keywords: | antitrust policy, coalition formation, collusive cartels |
| JEL: | C70 L40 L41 |
| Date: | 2008–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:anc:wpaper:325&r=reg |
| By: | Constadina Passa (Department of Economics, University of Crete, Greece); Anastasios Xepapadeas (Department of Economics, University of Crete, Greece) |
| Abstract: | The structure of farming activity under the provisions of the generalized regime of the Common Agricultural Policy involving both the first and second pillar elements is modelled. Independently of whether regulated agents exhibit unbounded or bounded rationality, the impact of the different type of CAP measures, as prescribed by Agenda 2000, in the decision making - and thus on the environmental performance of a homogeneous population of farmers - are discussed. The problem of a representative farmer is used for this purpose. After assessing the environmental effectiveness of the various CAP regimes, the mechanism that provides the type of CAP instruments that safeguard the collective attainment of a social environmental target, along with the type of interdependence characterizing them, is defined under the analytical framework of unboundedly and boundedly rational agents respectively. The problem of the optimal regulation of an unboundedly rational population of farmers is discussed in both a static and a dynamic context. The long-run viability of the Agenda 2000 CAP reform is also examined under the assumption of bounded rationality by employing the evolutionary framework of replicator dynamics. |
| Keywords: | Environmental impacts, coupling, decoupling, production subsidy, direct payment, cross-compliance principle, rural development subsidy. |
| JEL: | Q18 Q51 |
| Date: | 2007–12–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:crt:wpaper:0818&r=reg |
| By: | Moslener, Ulf; Sturm, Bodo |
| Abstract: | Without participation of the United States, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, mitigation of global climate change seems hardly conceivable. Despite the U.S. rejection of the Kyoto Protocol and the reluctance of the Bush administration to engage in Post-Kyoto negotiations, recent developments suggest that the U.S. position towards climate policy might change in the medium run. This study provides an overview on current trends in U.S. climate policy. Besides the main elements of national climate policy proposals and state-level initiatives the climate contents in the U.S. presidential candidates’ agendas are outlined. Based on this overview recent trends in U.S. climate policy are related to the European approach to combat climate change. Furthermore, we elaborate on the aspects which may be important for Europe to design its own domestic and international climate policy in order to achieve the long-term goal of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations. |
| Keywords: | environmental regulation, climate policy, emissions trading |
| JEL: | H73 K32 N50 Q58 |
| Date: | 2008 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:zewdip:7298&r=reg |
| By: | Seung-Hyun Lee; Yasuhiro Yamakawa; Mike W. Peng |
| Abstract: | Does an entrepreneur-friendly bankruptcy law encourage more entrepreneurship development at a societal level? How does bankruptcy law affect entrepreneurship development around the world? Drawing on a real options perspective, we argue that if bankrupt entrepreneurs are excessively punished for failure, they may pass potentially high-return but inherently high-risk opportunities. Amassing a longitudinal, cross-country data base from 35 countries spanning ten years, we find that a lenient, entrepreneur-friendly bankruptcy law encourages entrepreneurs to take risks and thus let entrepreneurship prosper. Components of an entrepreneur-friendly bankruptcy law are: (1) the availability of a reorganization bankruptcy option, (2) the time spent on bankruptcy procedure, (3) the cost of bankruptcy procedure, (4) the opportunity to have a fresh start in liquidation bankruptcy, (5) the opportunity to have an automatic stay of assets, (6) the opportunity for managers to remain on the job after filing for bankruptcy, and (7) the protection of creditors at the time of bankruptcy. |
| Date: | 2008 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sba:wpaper:08slyymp&r=reg |
| By: | Lucinda Trigo Gamarra (University of Rostock) |
| Abstract: | The German insurance market was liberalized in 1994 by the introduction of the ‘single passport’ allowing European insurers to operate throughout the entire European Union. The European directive put also an end to price and insurance contract terms regulation. These measures were meant for removing the obstacles to competition within and between the insurance markets of the member states aiming at an increased efficiency of the European insurance markets. We analyze to which extent this aim has been achieved in the German life insurance market. The development of market performance is measured by changes in technical cost and profit efficiency levels since the liberalization, as well as a measurement of technological change. Technical cost efficiency levels are estimated by applying a stochastic “true” fixed effects distance frontier (Greene, 2005). Non-standard profit efficiency is derived in a second step following Kumbakhar (2006). According to our results, the industry experienced positive total factor productivity (TFP) growth during the observation period, which is mainly driven by substantial positive technological change. Technical cost efficiency and profit efficiency remained stable on average, but significant positive scale efficiency change can be found indicating that market consolidation in the presence of increasing returns to scale led to efficiency gains of the firms. |
| Keywords: | Insurance markets, Total factor productivity growth, Stochastic Frontier Analysis |
| JEL: | D24 G22 G28 |
| Date: | 2008 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ros:wpaper:93&r=reg |
| By: | Rey, Patrick; Salant, David |
| Abstract: | Patent thickets, layers of licenses a firm needs to be able to offer products that embody technologies owned by multiple firms, and licensing policies have drawn increasing scrutiny from policy makers. Patent thickets involve complementary products, which gives rise to double marginalization -- the so-called royalty stacking problem -- and has the potential to retard diffusion of new technologies and reduce consumer welfare. This paper examines the impact of licensing policies of one or more upstream owners essential} intellectual property (IP) on the downstream firms that require access to that IP. The terms under which downstream firms can access this IP affects entry decisions, product diversity, prices and welfare. We consider both the case in which a single party controls the essential IP and the case in which different parties control complementary pieces of essential IP. We compare the outcome of several alternative standard licensing arrangements, such as flat rate access fees, royalty percentages, per unit fees, patent pools and cross-licensing arrangements, with or without vertical integration. We first consider the case where there is a single upstream owner of essential IP. Increasing the number of licenses enhances product variety, which creates added value, but it also intensifies downstream competition, which dissipates profits. We derive conditions under which the upstream IP monopoly will then want to provide an excessive or insufficient number of licenses, relative to the number that maximizes consumer surplus or social welfare. When there are multiple owners of essential IP, royalty stacking can reduce the number of the downstream licensees, but also the downstream equilibrium prices the consumers face. The paper derives conditions determining whether this reduction in downstream price and variety is beneficial to consumers or society. Finally, the paper explores the impact of alternative licensing policies. With fixed license fees or royalties expressed as a percentage of the price, an upstream IP owner cannot control the intensity of downstream competition. In contrast, volume-based license fees (i.e., per-unit access fees), do permit an upstream owner to control downstream competition and to replicate the outcome of complete integration. The paper also shows that vertical integration can have little impact on downstream competition and licensing terms when IP owners charge fixed or volume-based access fees. |
| Keywords: | Patents; Vertical Integration |
| JEL: | D43 L22 L40 |
| Date: | 2008 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:9454&r=reg |