The twin crises: The causes of banking and balance of payments problems

Reinhart, Carmen and Kaminsky, Graciela (1999): The twin crises: The causes of banking and balance of payments problems. Published in: American Economic Review , Vol. 89, No. 3 (June 1999): pp. 473-500.

Abstract

In the wake of the Mexican and Asian currency turmoil, the subject of financial crises has come to the forefront of academic and policy discussions. This paper analyzes the links between banking and currency crises. We find that: problems in the banking sector typically precede a currency crisis--the currency crisis deepens the banking crisis, activating a vicious spiral; financial liberalization often precedes banking crises. The anatomy of these episodes suggests that crises occur as the economy enters a recession, following a prolonged boom in economic activity that was fueled by credit, capital inflows and accompanied by an overvalued currency.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: banking crises credit currency crash stock prices capital flows exports recession
• Subjects: F - International Economics > F3 - International Finance > F30 - General; F - International Economics > F4 - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance > F41 - Open Economy Macroeconomics

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