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Credit Ratings and Security Prices in the Subprime MBS Market

Author

Listed:
  • Adam Ashcraft
  • Paul Goldsmith-Pinkham
  • Peter Hull
  • James Vickery

Abstract

We present and discuss preliminary evidence suggesting that credit ratings significantly influenced prices for subprime mortgage-backed securities issued in the period leading up to the recent financial crisis. Ratings are closely correlated with prices even controlling for a rich set of security- and loan-level controls. This incremental variation in ratings has much less predictive power for security defaults, however, based on findings to date from our ongoing research, suggesting prices were excessively sensitive to ratings relative to their informational content.

Suggested Citation

  • Adam Ashcraft & Paul Goldsmith-Pinkham & Peter Hull & James Vickery, 2011. "Credit Ratings and Security Prices in the Subprime MBS Market," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 101(3), pages 115-119, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:101:y:2011:i:3:p:115-19
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    File URL: http://www.aeaweb.org/articles.php?doi=10.1257/aer.101.3.115
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Adam B. Ashcraft & Paul Goldsmith-Pinkham & James Vickery, 2010. "MBS ratings and the mortgage credit boom," Staff Reports 449, Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
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