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How Cyclical Is Bank Capital?

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  • Joseph G. Haubrich

Abstract

Using annual data since 1834 and quarterly data since 1959, I find a negative correlation between output and current and lagged values of the bank capital ratio, but a positive correlation with leading values, although except for the period since 1996 the numbers are mostly small and usually insignificant. The most significant correlations tend to reflect movements in bank assets, rather than capital itself, and although the pattern of aggregate correlations matches those of large banks, small banks show a different pattern, with strongly pro-cyclical capital ratios (counter-cyclical leverage).

Suggested Citation

  • Joseph G. Haubrich, 2015. "How Cyclical Is Bank Capital?," Working Papers 15-04R, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedcwq:150401
    DOI: 10.26509/frbc-wp-201504r1
    Note: This is a revision of Working Paper 15-04 originally published in March of 2015.
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    Cited by:

    1. PJ Elliott, 2021. "Banking Trends: How and Why Bank Capital Ratios Change Over the Business Cycle," Economic Insights, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, vol. 6(1), pages 17-22, March.
    2. PJ Elliott, 2021. "Banking Trends: How and Why Bank Capital Ratios Change Over the Business Cycle," Banking Trends, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, March.
    3. Václav Brož & Lukáš Pfeifer, 2021. "Are risk weights of banks in the Czech Republic procyclical? Evidence from wavelet analysis," Journal of Central Banking Theory and Practice, Central bank of Montenegro, vol. 10(1), pages 113-139.
    4. Ryan Michaels, 2021. "Isolating the Effect of State Business Closure Orders on Employment," Economic Insights, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, vol. 6(1), pages 8-16, March.
    5. Phurichai Rungcharoenkitkul & Claudio Borio & Piti Disyatat Author-X-Name_First: Piti, 2019. "Monetary policy hysteresis and the financial cycle," BIS Working Papers 817, Bank for International Settlements.
    6. Wenli Li, 2021. "The Graying of Household Debt in the U.S," Economic Insights, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, vol. 6(1), pages 2-7, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bank capital; business cycles;

    JEL classification:

    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • 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
    • N20 - Economic History - - Financial Markets and Institutions - - - General, International, or Comparative

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