NetVIX - A Network Volatility Index of Financial Markets

Abstract

We construct a network-based turbulence score that proves useful for analyzing the relationship between financial interconnectedness, and global market risk, and for identifying systemically important markets, with the highest contribution to financial turbulence. We apply our measure to study the integration among the major stock markets over the first two decades of the 21st century, particularly during the tech, sub-prime, and ongoing COVID-19 crises. The result shows that the interconnectedness of the markets amplifies initial global market risks (on average almost four times), to cause financial turbulence. We also found evidence that the United States is central to global market turbulence, followed by Brazil, France, Hong Kong, and Germany.

Keywords: Centrality, COVID-19, Density, Financial Crises, Financial Networks, VAR

JEL Classification: C11, C15, C51, C52, C55, C58, G01, G12