Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/27391 
Year of Publication: 
2009
Series/Report no.: 
DIW Discussion Papers No. 868
Publisher: 
Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW), Berlin
Abstract: 
This paper estimates ordered logit and probit regression models for bank ratings which also include a country index to capture country-specific variation. The empirical findings provide support to the hypothesis that the individual international bank ratings assigned by Fitch Ratings are underpinned by fundamental quantitative financial analyses. Also, there is strong evidence of a country effect. Our model is shown to provide accurate predictions of bank ratings for the period prior to the 2007 - 2008 banking crisis based upon publicly available information. However, our results also suggest that quantitative models are not likely to be able to predict ratings with complete accuracy. Furthermore, we find that both quantitative models and rating agencies are likely to produce highly inaccurate predictions of ratings during periods of financial instability.
Subjects: 
International banks
ratings
ordered choice models
country index
JEL: 
C25
C51
C52
G21
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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