CDS Zombies

European Business Organization Law Review 13, Forthcoming

American University, WCL Research Paper No. 2012-37

37 Pages Posted: 3 Sep 2012 Last revised: 25 Dec 2014

See all articles by Anna Gelpern

Anna Gelpern

Georgetown University Law Center

Mitu Gulati

University of Virginia School of Law

Date Written: August 29, 2012

Abstract

This paper examines the contract interpretation strategies adopted by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) for its credit derivatives contracts in the Greek sovereign debt crisis. We argue that the economic function of sovereign credit default swaps (CDS) after Greece is limited and uncertain, partly thanks to ISDA’s insistence on textualist interpretation. Contract theory explanations for textualist preferences emphasise either transactional efficiency or relational factors, which do not fit ISDA or the derivatives market. We pose an alternative explanation: the embrace of textualism in this case may be a means for ISDA to reconcile the competing political demands from state regulators and its market constituents. We describe categories of contracts susceptible to such political demands, and consider when and why textualism might be the preferred response.

Keywords: CDS, derivatives, sovereign debt, Greece, Europe, financial crisis, ISDA

JEL Classification: F34, F36, G15, G28, G38, K12, K23

Suggested Citation

Gelpern, Anna and Gulati, Mitu, CDS Zombies (August 29, 2012). European Business Organization Law Review 13, Forthcoming, American University, WCL Research Paper No. 2012-37, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2138901

Anna Gelpern (Contact Author)

Georgetown University Law Center ( email )

600 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
United States

Mitu Gulati

University of Virginia School of Law ( email )

580 Massie Road
Charlottesville, VA 22903
United States

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