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On the Shock-Absorbing Properties of a Banking Union: Europe Compared with the United States

Author

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  • Ansgar Belke

    (University of Duisburg-Essen
    Centre for European Policy Studies
    Institute for the Study of Labor)

  • Daniel Gros

    (Centre for European Policy Studies)

Abstract

This study investigates the shock-absorbing properties of a banking union by providing a detailed comparison between the way regional financial shocks have been absorbed at the federal level in the United States, but have led to severe regional (national) financial dislocation and tensions in the euro area. The extent to which the institutions of the banking union, which is now emerging in the euro area, should increase its capacity to deal with future regional boom and bust cycles is also discussed. Cross-border capital flows in the form of equity appear to be much more stable than those taking the form of credit, especially inter-bank credit. Moreover, credit booms and bust leave a debt overhang and losses can materialise only via insolvencies, whereas equity flows absorb automatically losses in case of a bust and provide the cross-border owner with incentives to continue to provide financing even during a crisis. It follows that cross-border banks can absorb regional shocks. Of course, there is no free lunch: large cross-border banks pose the ‘too big to fail’ problem, and they also propagate shocks, especially if they originate in large countries, to the entire area.

Suggested Citation

  • Ansgar Belke & Daniel Gros, 2016. "On the Shock-Absorbing Properties of a Banking Union: Europe Compared with the United States," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 58(3), pages 359-386, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:compes:v:58:y:2016:i:3:d:10.1057_ces.2016.9
    DOI: 10.1057/ces.2016.9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Koetter, Michael & Krause, Thomas & Tonzer, Lena, 2019. "Delay determinants of European Banking Union implementation," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 1-20.
    2. Roman Horvath, 2018. "Financial market fragmentation and monetary transmission in the euro area: what do we know?," Journal of Economic Policy Reform, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(4), pages 319-334, October.
    3. Mardi Dungey & Moses Kangogo & Vladimir Volkov, 2022. "Dynamic effects of network exposure on equity markets," Eurasian Economic Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 12(4), pages 569-629, December.
    4. Lazopoulos, Ioannis & Gabriel, Vasco, 2019. "Policy mandates and institutional architecture," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 122-134.
    5. Belke, Ansgar & Dobrzańska, Anna & Gros, Daniel & Smaga, Paweł, 2016. "(When) should a non-euro country join the banking union?," The Journal of Economic Asymmetries, Elsevier, vol. 14(PA), pages 4-19.
    6. Kangogo, Moses & Volkov, Vladimir, 2021. "Dynamic effects of network exposure on equity markets," Working Papers 2021-03, University of Tasmania, Tasmanian School of Business and Economics.
    7. Ansgar Belke, 2020. "Depression and grief as a result of economic and financial crises: the example of Greece and some generalizations," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 53(1), pages 139-149, February.

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