Credit Default Swaps and Risk-Shifting
2012, Economics Letters, 117(3), pp.639-641
Abstract
Credit default swaps (CDSs) are thought to ease borrowing by protecting lenders against default. This paper develops a model of the demand for CDS when borrowers choose the riskiness of investment and verification is imperfect. The model shows that CDSs may lead to risk-shifting, increasing the probability of default. Our model provides new insights into the role of CDS during the recent financial crisis.