The First Line of Defense: The Discount Window during the Early Stages of the Financial Crisis

B-Tier
Journal: International Journal of Central Banking
Year: 2021
Volume: 17
Issue: 1
Pages: 143-190

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

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

Abstract

Differences in stigma of borrowing from the discount window across banks caused federal funds rates to rise early in the 2007–09 financial crisis, even as the spread between the discount rate and the target rate narrowed. Low-stigma banks went to the discount window, leaving only high-stigma banks in the market, creating a separating equilibrium. A simple theoretical model illustrates this point, and its implications are evaluated using an empirical selection model. The results suggest the selection effect became stronger as the crisis intensified pre-Lehman, but faded once reserves ballooned.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:ijc:ijcjou:y:2021:q:1:a:5
Journal Field
Macro
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-25