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Risk sharing, public policy and the contribution of Islamic finance

Author

Listed:
  • Hossein Askari

    (International Business and International Affairs)

  • Abbas Mirakhor

    (The Global University of Islamic Finance)

Abstract

A major reason for the recurrent episodes of financial instability is the predominance of interest-based debt and leveraging. Financial stability is achievable through risk sharing finance instead of risk shifting that characterizes contemporary finance. A risk sharing system serves the true function of finance as facilitator of real sector activities and avoids the emergence of a “paper economy” where there is gradual decoupling of finance from the real sector. Islamic finance was initially proposed as a profit-loss sharing system, but its core principle is risk sharing. In prohibiting interest-based debt instruments, Islam grounds finance on a strong risk sharing footing. Although still a young industry that has come a long way, it has not managed to develop truly risk-sharing instruments that would allow individuals, households, and firms as well as whole economies to mitigate systematic and un-systematic risks. It is suggested that governments should intervene and issue macro-market instruments to provide their treasuries with a significant source of non-interest rate based financing while promoting risk sharing. Moreover, given that evidence across the world suggests that monetary policy’s transmission mechanism may be impaired, it is suggested that these government issued securities could also impart added potency to monetary policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Hossein Askari & Abbas Mirakhor, 2014. "Risk sharing, public policy and the contribution of Islamic finance," PSL Quarterly Review, Economia civile, vol. 67(271), pages 345-379.
  • Handle: RePEc:psl:pslqrr:2014:41
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    File URL: http://ojs.uniroma1.it/index.php/PSLQuarterlyReview/article/view/13022/12828
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    Cited by:

    1. Hasan, Zubair, 2014. "Risk sharing versus risk transfer in islamic finance," MPRA Paper 62810, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised Mar 2015.
    2. Hasan, Zubair, 2016. "Risk-sharing the sole basis of Islamic finance? time for a serious rethink," MPRA Paper 72252, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 15 Apr 2018.
    3. Boranbay, Serra & Guerriero, Carmine, 2019. "Endogenous (in)formal institutions," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 47(4), pages 921-945.
    4. Hasan, Zubair, 2014. "Risk sharing versus risk transfer in Islamic finance: revised," MPRA Paper 62826, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised Mar 2015.
    5. Hasan, Zubair, 2015. "Risk sharing versus risk transfer in islamic finance," MPRA Paper 62847, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised Mar 2015.
    6. Hakeem, Muhammad Mohsin, 2019. "Innovative solutions to tap “Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises” (MSME) market A way forward for Islamic banks," Islamic Economic Studies, The Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI), vol. 27, pages 38-52.
    7. Hasan, Zubair, 2015. "Risk-sharing: the sole basis of Islamic finance? It is time for a serious rethink," MPRA Paper 66895, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Zubair Hasan, 2016. "Risk-Sharing: The Sole Basis of Islamic Finance? Time for a Serious Rethink المشاركة في المخاطر: الأساس الوحيد للتمويل الإسلامي؟ حان الوقت لإعادة التفكير الجدي في الموضوع," Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Islamic Economics, King Abdulaziz University, Islamic Economics Institute., vol. 29(2), pages 23-36, January.
    9. Hossein Askari, 2015. "Severe Financial Crises and Fundamental Reforms: The Benefits of Risk-Sharing الأزمات المالية الخطيرة والإصلاحات الأساسية: فوائد تقاسم المخاطر," Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Islamic Economics, King Abdulaziz University, Islamic Economics Institute., vol. 28(1), pages 93-128, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Risk sharing; Macro-market securities; Islamic finance; Government policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • P43 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Finance; Public Finance
    • P4 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems
    • E2 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment

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