Microeconomics of banking

by Xavier Freixas

Twenty years ago, most banking courses focused on either management or monetary aspects of banking, with no connecting link. Since then, a microeconomic theory of banking has developed, mainly through a shift in emphasis from the modeling of risk to the modeling of imperfect information. This asymmetric information model is based on the assumption that different economic agents possess different pieces of information on relevant economic variables, which they will use for their own benefit. The model has been exptremely useful in explaining the role of banks in the economy. It has also been helpful in pointing out structural weaknesses of the banking sector that may justify government intervention - for example, exposure to runs and panics, the persistence of rationing in the credit market, and solvency problems. Microeconomics of Banking provides a guide to the new theory. Topics include: why financial intermediaries exist, the industrial organization approach to banking, optimal cont