Moral-hazard credit cycles with risk-averse agents

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Economic Theory
Year: 2014
Volume: 153
Issue: C
Pages: 74-102

Score contribution per author:

4.022 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We consider a simple overlapping-generations model with risk-averse financial agents subject to moral hazard. Efficient contracts for such financial intermediaries involve back-loaded late-career rewards. Compared to the analogous model with risk-neutral agents, risk aversion tends to reduce the growth of agents' responsibilities over their careers. This moderation of career growth rates can reduce the amplitude of the widest credit cycles, but it also can cause small deviations from steady state to amplify over time in rational-expectations equilibria. We find equilibria in which fluctuations increase until the economy enters a boom/bust cycle where no financial agents are hired in booms.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:jetheo:v:153:y:2014:i:c:p:74-102
Journal Field
Theory
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-26