Revisiting Risk-Weighted Assets

Abstract

In this paper, we provide an overview of the concerns surrounding the variations in the calculation of risk-weighted assets (RWAs) across banks and jurisdictions and how this might undermine the Basel III capital adequacy framework. We discuss the key drivers behind the differences in these calculations, drawing upon a sample of systemically important banks from Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific. We then discuss a range of policy options that could be explored to fix the actual and perceived problems with RWAs, and improve the use of risk-sensitive capital ratios.

Keywords: Banks, Capital, Bank supervision, Banking sector, Credit risk, Risk management, banking, capital requirements, market risk, risk-weighted assets, banking supervision, accounting framework, capital adequacy, sovereign risk, probability of default

JEL Classification: G21, G28, G32, G38