Banks, Markets, and the Color of Finance

Banks, Markets, and the Color of Finance

Anjan Thakor, Fenghua Song

Series number :

Serial Number: 
933/2023

Date posted :

September 23 2023

Last revised :

October 15 2023
SSRN Share

Keywords

  • Bank capital • 
  • climate finance • 
  • Financial system • 
  • financial stability

We develop a model in which brown (high-emission) and green (clean-energy) firms compete and seek financing from banks and the capital market. We use this model to examine the effects of higher minimum capital requirements on banks making brown loans so as to discourage such lending.

Facing costlier bank financing, some brown firms leave banks for the market and invest more, increasing brown investments at the intensive margin. This increases competition for green firms, causing banks financing these green firms to keep less capital and reduce screening. Ironically, higher capital requirements on brown loans hurt financial stability and increase pollution.

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Authors

Real name:
Fenghua Song
Professor
Real name:
Anjan Thakor
Research Member
John M. Olin School of Business, Washington University, St. Louis