Inside Debt and Bank Risk
49 Pages Posted: 24 Sep 2010 Last revised: 24 Oct 2014
Date Written: March 14, 2014
Abstract
Inside debt compensation held by top officers of U.S. banks is negatively related to risk and risk-taking. The evidence reveals a robust and strongly negative relation between end-of-2006 inside debt and 2007-2009 bank-specific risk exposures in terms of lost stock market value, volatility, tail risk, and the probability of financial distress. Banks with managers having large inside debt holdings are also characterized by better-quality assets, more conservative balance sheet management, and a stronger tendency towards traditional banking activities. The results suggest that debt-based compensation limits bank risk and risk-taking by encouraging more conservative decision-making.
Keywords: Executive Compensation, Risk Management, Inside debt, Financial Institutions
JEL Classification: G21, G28, G30, G34, J33
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation