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Bank leverage and return on equity targeting: intrinsic procyclicality of short-term choices

Author

Listed:
  • Spyros Pagratis

    (Athens University of Economics and Business)

  • Eleni Karakatsani

    (Bank of Greece)

  • Helen Louri

    (Athens University of Economics and Business,Bank of Greece and London School of Economics)

Abstract

We find evidence that banks target return on equity (RoE) and make active use of leverage to affect the speed of adjustment towards RoE targets. That holds for both the pre- and post-2007 periods and especially for banks that tend to operate with above median leverage among their peer group. As a result, RoE targeting could affect leverage dynamics and amplify cyclical fluctuations as banks take on more leverage to achieve high returns when risk premia are low, while ‘rush for the exit’ and delever to contain losses when the cycle turns. Therefore, recent proposals that aim to align executive pay with long-term performance by restricting the use of profitability metrics such as RoE from remuneration schemes seem to be in the right direction.

Suggested Citation

  • Spyros Pagratis & Eleni Karakatsani & Helen Louri, 2014. "Bank leverage and return on equity targeting: intrinsic procyclicality of short-term choices," Working Papers 189, Bank of Greece.
    • Handle: RePEc:bog:wpaper:189
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Apergis, Nicholas, 2014. "The long-term role of non-traditional banking in profitability and risk profiles: Evidence from a panel of U.S. banking institutions," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 61-73.
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    Cited by:

    1. Psillaki Maria & Georgoulea Eleftheria, 2016. "The Impact of Basel III Indexes of Leverage and Liquidity CRDIV/CRR on Bank Performance: Evidence from Greek Banks," SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, University of Piraeus, vol. 66(1-2), pages 79-107, January-J.
    2. Petr Pavlík, 2016. "Theoretical backgrounds of modern bank regulation [Teoretické základy současné bankovní regulace]," Český finanční a účetní časopis, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2016(2), pages 5-33.
    3. Theodora Kosma & Pavlos Petroulas & Evangelia Vourvachaki, 2020. "What drives wage differentials in Greece: workplaces or workers?," Economic Bulletin, Bank of Greece, issue 52, pages 69-72, December.
    4. Javid Iqbal & Khalid Riaz, 2022. "Predicting future financial performance of banks from management’s tone in the textual disclosures," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 56(4), pages 2691-2721, August.
    5. Simón Sosvilla-Rivero & Victor Echevarria Icaza, 2017. "Systemic banks, capital composition and CoCo bonds issuance:The effects on bank risk," Working Papers 17-03, Asociación Española de Economía y Finanzas Internacionales.
    6. Javid Iqbal, 2019. "Managerial Self-Attribution Bias and Banks’ Future Performance: Evidence from Emerging Economies," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-32, April.
    7. Constantina Backinezos & Stelios Panagiotou & Evangelia Vourvachaki, 2020. "Multiplier effects by sector: an input-output analysis of the Greek economy," Economic Bulletin, Bank of Greece, issue 52, pages 7-28, December.
    8. Nikos Vettas & Konstantinos Peppas & Sophia Stavraki & Michail Vasileiadis, 2020. "The contribution of Industry to the Greek economy: facts and prospects," Economic Bulletin, Bank of Greece, issue 52, pages 29-67, December.
    9. Ioannis Asimakopoulos & Athanasios P. Fassas & Dimitris Malliaropulos, 2020. "Does earnings quality matter? Evidence from the Athens Exchange," Economic Bulletin, Bank of Greece, issue 52, pages 93-112, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Banks; Return on Equity; Target; Leverage; Procyclicality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G38 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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