Journal Article

What determines creditor recovery rates?

Abstract: The 2007-09 financial crisis illustrated the importance of healthy banks for the overall stability of the financial system and economy. Because banking is inherently risky, the health of banks depends on their ability to manage risk and exposure to losses. ; An important component of a strong risk management system is a bank?s ability to assess the potential losses on its investments. One factor that determines the extent of losses is the recovery rate on loans and bonds that are in default. For example, the recovery rate is said to be 50 percent if the creditor is able to recover only half the amount of principal and accrued interest due. ; Drawing on more than 30 years of recovery data on defaulted debt instruments, Mora finds that the state of the economy helps determine creditor recovery rates. Industry distress also drives recovery rates, and evidence suggests industry distress can be triggered by a weak economy.

Bibliographic Information

Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

Part of Series: Economic Review

Publication Date: 2012

Volume: 97

Issue: Q II