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The Global Response to the Financial Crisis: Can We Avoid a Repeat? Robert C. Pozen Chairman MFS Investment Management ® The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speaker and are subject to change at any time. 14173.1
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Pozen_Toronto_Jan2010 2 “Never let a serious crisis go to waste.” — Niccolo Machiavelli, 15 th century philosopher — Rahm Emanuel, current White House Chief of Staff
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Pozen_Toronto_Jan2010 3 Major financial crises — World War II to 1995-97 22 major banking crises in advanced industrial societies Including Europe, Turkey, Russia, Japan, Canada, U.S., Australia, and New Zealand Source: Carmen M. Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff, “ This Time is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly”, 2009 1945 to 1995 Source: Michael Bordo and Barry Eichegreen, “Crisis Now and Then: What Lessons from the Last Era of Financial Globalization?”, National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper No. 8716.
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Pozen_Toronto_Jan2010 4 U.S. exports and imports 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009* $1,071 1,005 977 1,020 1,159 1,281 1,452 1,646 1,836 1,411 U.S. international trade in goods and services ($B) $1,450 1,370 1,399 1,515 1,769 1,997 2,212 2,346 2,517 1,752 ExportsImports * Through 11/30/09. ** As of 9/30/09. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; National Bureau of Economic Research 4.2% 3.9 4.3 4.7 5.3 5.9 6.0 5.2 4.9 3.0** Current Account Deficit (% of GDP)
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Pozen_Toronto_Jan2010 5 Continuing negative savings by U.S. (Personal and government) Sources: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; Congressional Budget Office; Brookings Institution U.S. Personal Saving Rate U.S. Budget Deficits External debt at end of fiscal year (FY) 2008 $5.8 trillion Budget deficit in FY 2009 $1.4 trillion External debt at end of FY 2009 $7.2 trillion Projected budget deficits in FY 2010 – 2018$9.0 trillion Projected external debt at end of FY 2018 $16.2 trillion + + = =
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Pozen_Toronto_Jan2010 6 Can the Fed be an effective inflation fighter? Maximum and Actual Exposure of Federal Reserve to the Financial Bailout ($B) As of March 25, 2009Maximum Exposure Actual Exposure
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Pozen_Toronto_Jan2010 7 U.S. Treasury — Bailing out institutions Recapitalized too many banks without clear rationale AMEX and State Farm allowed to become bank holding companies Recapitalize troubled banks with preferred stock (+15% warrants) Problem Solution New statute to justify rationale for every bailout of each institution Provide liquidity support, not capital, to non-banks Preferred stock with warrants to purchase 100% of preferred
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Pozen_Toronto_Jan2010 8 FDIC — Government guarantees Short-term liquidity crisis after Lehman’s failure Deposit insurance increased to $250,000 (through 2013) Guarantee 100% of debt of banks, thrifts, and their holding companies Problem Solution Fed did good job in allowing swaps of Treasuries for illiquid securities Stay at $100,000, which covers 98% of depositors Limit FDIC guarantee to 90% of debt of banks and thrifts (not their holding companies)
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Pozen_Toronto_Jan2010 9 Government actions: Executive compensation for financial institutions Legislative limit for assisted institutions –Bonus no more than 1/3 of base –Example: Wells Fargo CEO Special Master for six TARP institutions –Approve compensation specifics of top-25 –Approve compensation structure of next 75 Federal Reserve – for all 8,200 banks –Proposal to ensure appropriate incentive compensation –Will reject arrangements with “excessive risks”
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Pozen_Toronto_Jan2010 10 Improving boards of mega-banks Existing mega-bank board model –Large boards: 12 to 18 members –Lack of industry expertise –Meet 6 times per year Board of “Super-Directors” –Smaller number of directors: 5 to 7 –All directors with relevant experience –Devote 2 to 3 days per month
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Pozen_Toronto_Jan2010 11 Mortgages — Securitization process Brokers sold mortgages without retaining any risk of loss Securitization vehicles: Multilayered and opaque Credit rating agencies have conflicts of interest Problem Solution Sellers of loans should retain at least 5% risk of loss Simpler vehicles with more ongoing disclosures SEC-appointed representative to choose credit rating agency
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Pozen_Toronto_Jan2010 12 Banks — Capital requirements Basle I reduced capital requirements for mortgages, MBS Basle II based on internal risk models of banks Loan loss reserves limited to probable losses Problem Solution Should have distinguished between more and less risky mortgages 12 to 16 categories of risk capital plus subordinated debt Allow contingent loan loss reserves plus disclosure
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Pozen_Toronto_Jan2010 13 Key Canadian virtues Require 20% down payments for most home mortgages and no tax deduction for interest paid on home mortgages Set higher amount and quality of capital for banks Did not buy products without understanding them Combination of commercial banking and securities underwriting: Not a problem for Canadian banks
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Pozen_Toronto_Jan2010 14 Close gaps in U.S. financial regulation Customized financial derivatives exempt from most regulation Hedge funds, aggressive short sellers, grew rapidly Global insurers regulated by 50 states Inadequate regulatory focus on systemic risks Problem Solution More standardized contracts; through one clearing corp Require managers of hedge funds to register as investment advisers Federal charter for a few global life insurers Council of regulators, with Fed, to monitor systemic risk
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Pozen_Toronto_Jan2010 15 Proposed restructuring of financial agencies Merge all four banking agencies into one new agency Create new agency to regulate all retail financial products No merger of CFTC with SEC because of Senate conflict Current Proposal Better Approach Merge Office of Thrift Supervision into Comptroller Limit new agency oversight to home mortgages, nonbank lenders Merge with joint sub-committee from Agriculture and Banking
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Pozen_Toronto_Jan2010 16 Five key recommendations Stop bailing out so many institutions Adopt a totally different board model Revamp loan securitization process Increase and redesign capital requirements Close gaps in federal regulation
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The Global Response to the Financial Crisis: Can We Avoid a Repeat? Thank you. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speaker and are subject to change at any time.
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