Financial Intermediaries and Markets

39 Pages Posted: 11 Nov 2008

See all articles by Franklin Allen

Franklin Allen

Imperial College London

Douglas M. Gale

New York University (NYU) - Department of Economics

Date Written: December 2003

Abstract

A complex financial system comprises both financial markets and financial intermediaries. We distinguish financial intermediaries according to whether they issue complete contingent contracts or incomplete contracts. Intermediaries such as banks that issue incomplete contracts, e.g., demand deposits, are subject to runs, but this does not imply a market failure. A sophisticated financial system a system with complete markets for aggregate risk and limited market participation is incentive-efficient, if the intermediaries issue complete contingent contracts, or else constrained-efficient, if they issue incomplete contracts. We argue that there may be a role for regulating liquidity provision in an economy in which markets for aggregate risks are incomplete.

Suggested Citation

Allen, Franklin and Gale, Douglas M., Financial Intermediaries and Markets (December 2003). NYU Working Paper No. S-FI-03-16, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1297793

Franklin Allen (Contact Author)

Imperial College London ( email )

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London, Greater London SW7 2AZ
United Kingdom

Douglas M. Gale

New York University (NYU) - Department of Economics ( email )

269 Mercer Street, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10011
United States
(212) 998-8944 (Phone)
(212) 995-3932 (Fax)

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