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What is the Impact of a Major Unconventional Monetary Policy Intervention?

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  • Carlo Alcaraz
  • Stijn Claessens
  • Gabriel Cuadra
  • David Marques-Ibanez
  • Horacio Sapriza

Abstract

How does the credible announcement of an unconventional monetary policy intervention affect bank lending standards during crises? We use a major central bank announcement, the "whatever it takes" speech of the European Central Bank President that boosted the capital of banks, as a natural experiment. We compare changes in lending standards of subsidiaries of euro area versus other banks in a third country, Mexico. The speech reversed a prior trend of euro area banks augmenting their risk-taking via loan growth, lending rates, and credit risk. Our findings show that policies that amount to capitalization can reduce risk-taking in times of stress, adding a new dimension to the bank capital channel.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlo Alcaraz & Stijn Claessens & Gabriel Cuadra & David Marques-Ibanez & Horacio Sapriza, 2025. "What is the Impact of a Major Unconventional Monetary Policy Intervention?," Working Paper 25-07, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedrwp:101854
    DOI: 10.21144/wp25-07
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • E51 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Money Supply; Credit; Money Multipliers
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • F34 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - International Lending and Debt Problems

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