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Detecting excessive credit growth: An approach based on structural counterfactuals

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  • Magnus Saß

Abstract

The Basel credit-to-GDP gap is the single most popular measure of excessive credit growth and the financial cycle in general. It is based, however, on a purely statistical understanding of excessiveness: Growth is excessive if the credit-to-GDP ratio (i.e. the ratio of credit to nominal GDP) is significantly above its long-term trend. This paper presents an alternative approach where variation in the credit-to-GDP ratio is decomposed into its structural economic drivers. Some of these economic drivers are assumed to be non-excessive (aggregate demand and supply shocks), and others to be potentially excessive (all other shocks). Based on this identification, I construct a more structural credit gap measure that quantifies the impact of excessive drivers. In an early-warning exercise, I show that this gap measure performs particulary well in predicting financial crises at relatively short horizons.

Suggested Citation

  • Magnus Saß, 2024. "Detecting excessive credit growth: An approach based on structural counterfactuals," Berlin School of Economics Discussion Papers 0046, Berlin School of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:bdp:dpaper:0046
    DOI: 10.48462/opus4-5591
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    financial cycles; conditional forecasting; time series; Bayesian VAR;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C11 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Bayesian Analysis: General
    • C32 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes; State Space Models
    • C53 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Forecasting and Prediction Models; Simulation Methods
    • C61 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Optimization Techniques; Programming Models; Dynamic Analysis
    • G01 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Financial Crises
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

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