Report
Patrick Artus

Finance is procyclical: How can this be avoided?

The COVID crisis has once again shown that finance is procyclical. During recessions, companies face the seizing-up of financial markets and more restrictive bank lending conditions. To avoid this procyclicality of finance, an ex-post response to the crisis is implemented during every crisis: loans with a state guarantee, debt restructuring, transformation of debt into equity, etc. This ex-post response is complicated and costly in terms of time and effort. It would be better for finance to be countercyclical, structurally and automatically, and not "manually" when a crisis occurs. This may be achieved through: Countercyclical regulation of banks and institutional investors (insurers), e.g. countercyclical capital rules; The development of "contingent" financing, the servicing of which depends on the company's situation; for example, if the company's financial situation deteriorates beyond pre-determined thresholds, loan servicing is suspended, or loans are automatically converted into equity.
Provider
Natixis
Natixis

Based across the world’s leading financial centers, Natixis CIB Research offers an integrated view of the markets. The team provides support to inform Natixis clients’ investment and hedging decisions across all asset classes.

 

Analysts
Patrick Artus

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Benito Berber
  • Benito Berber

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