Bank Attitude Toward Risk, Implicit Rates of Interest, and the Behavior of an Index of Risk Aversion for Commercial Banks

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of a quasi-risk-averse bank facing uncertainty with respect to demand deposit flows and default risk on loans. On the basis of a formal model, testable hypotheses of bank attitude toward risk and the qualitative behavior of the index of relative risk aversion for commercial banks are developed. Through the use of data on the member banks of the Tenth Federal Reserve District, the empirical tests that were conducted indicated that banks are strongly risk-averse and that their index of relative risk aversion is increasing in profits. These results suggest that favorable (unfavorable) environmental changes will generate income effects that will result in proportionately less (more) risk taking by banks.

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