Journal of Risk

Risk.net

Optimization of systemic risk: reallocation of assets based on bank networks

Hu Wang and Shouwei Li

  • We quantify minimal systemic risk by reallocating assets in the two networks of interbank lending and common asset holdings.
  • Decreasing interbank assets and increasing common asset holdings can reduce systemic risk.
  • We find that the existence of high Herfindahl–Hirschman Index (HHI) may amplify systemic risk.
  • We find that low HHI plays a risk-sharing role when there is less high HHI.

In this paper, we investigate the optimization of systemic risk based on DebtRank by considering two contagion channels: interbank lending and common asset holdings. The optimization of systemic risk is realized through the reallocation of assets in these two networks (interbank lending and common asset holdings), and China’s interbank lending and sector loans data from 2017 is used to verify this scenario. The results show that under bank shock and asset shock, systemic risk can be significantly reduced through the reallocation of assets in these two networks; the density of the optimized network is significantly higher than that of the original network; and the scale of interbank assets of large-scale banks decreases, while the scale of common asset holdings increases in the optimized network. In addition, the results suggest that systemic risk can be lowered by reducing the existence of a high concentration of bank or sector portfolios, and that a low Herfindahl–Hirschman Index (HHI) plays a role in risk-sharing when there is a less high HHI.

Sorry, our subscription options are not loading right now

Please try again later. Get in touch with our customer services team if this issue persists.

New to Risk.net? View our subscription options

You need to sign in to use this feature. If you don’t have a Risk.net account, please register for a trial.

Sign in
You are currently on corporate access.

To use this feature you will need an individual account. If you have one already please sign in.

Sign in.

Alternatively you can request an individual account here