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Fiscal consolidations and bank balance sheets

Author

Listed:
  • Hauptmeier, Sebastian
  • Cimadomo, Jacopo
  • Zimmermann, Tom

Abstract

We empirically investigate the effects of fiscal policy on bank balance sheets, focusing on episodes of fiscal consolidation. To this aim, we employ a very large data set of individual banks' balance sheets, combined with a newly compiled data set on fiscal consolidations. We find that standard capital adequacy ratios such as the Tier-1 ratio tend to improve following episodes of fiscal consolidation. Our results suggest that this improvement results from a portfolio re-balancing from private to public debt securities which reduces the risk-weighted value of assets. In fact, if fiscal adjustment efforts are perceived as structural policy changes that improve the sustainability of public finances and, therefore, reduces credit risk, the banks' demand for government securities should increases relative to other assets. JEL Classification: E62, G11, G21, H30

Suggested Citation

  • Hauptmeier, Sebastian & Cimadomo, Jacopo & Zimmermann, Tom, 2013. "Fiscal consolidations and bank balance sheets," Working Paper Series 1511, European Central Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecb:ecbwps:20131511
    Note: 538998
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. João Tovar Jalles & André Teixeira, 2025. "Austerity And Banking: The Impact Of Fiscal Consolidation On Bank Efficiency And Stability," Working Papers REM 2025/0370, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, REM, Universidade de Lisboa.
    3. Róbert Oravský & Peter Tóth & Anna Bánociová, 2020. "The Ability of Selected European Countries to Face the Impending Economic Crisis Caused by COVID-19 in the Context of the Global Economic Crisis of 2008," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-17, August.
    4. Georgios Georgantas & Maria Kasselaki & Athanasios Tagkalakis, 2022. "The short-run effects of fiscal adjustment in OECD countries," Working Papers 308, Bank of Greece.
    5. repec:ecb:ecbops:2011162 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Georgantas, Georgios & Kasselaki, Maria & Tagkalakis, Athanasios, 2023. "Τhe effects of fiscal consolidation in OECD countries," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • H30 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - General

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