Document Type

Discussion Paper

Publication Date

7-1-2013

CFDP Number

1903R

CFDP Revision Date

2015-03-01

CFDP Pages

51

Abstract

Financial innovations that change how promises are collateralized can affect investment, even in the absence of any change in fundamentals. In C-models, the ability to leverage an asset always generates over-investment compared to Arrow Debreu. The introduction of CDS always leads to under-investment with respect to Arrow Debreu, and in some cases even robustly destroys competitive equilibrium. The need for collateral would seem to cause under-investment. Our analysis illustrates a countervailing force: goods that serve as collateral yield additional services and are therefore over-valued and over-produced. In models without cash flow problems there is never marginal under-investment on collateral.

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Economics Commons

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