Research

Institutional Synergies and the Fragility of Loan Funds (SSRN) with Mustafa Emin, Christopher James, and Tao Li

2023, Revise & Resubmit, Review of Financial Studies

Presentations (* by coauthor): NBER Summer Institute 2022*, FIFI 2022, CICF 2022, FMA 2022, FMCG 2022, University of Utah 2022*, Financial Stability Board Conference 2022*, FIRS 2023*, OCC Symposium on Emerging Risks in the Banking System 2023*, UTD Finance Conference 2023, AFA 2024*  

Abstract: There are two major institutional investors in the syndicated loan market: collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) and bank loan mutual funds. CLOs are closed-end funds while bank loan mutual funds are open-end funds that issue claims that are redeemable on demand. In this paper, we examine whether CLOs provide arbitrage capital that contributes to the resilience of loan funds. We find that CLOs provide liquidity through par building trades when loan funds experience large outflows. CLO-provided liquidity limits redemption-induced fire-sale discounts but only for loans that are par build eligible.

Social Networks and Investor Beliefs: Evidence from the Municipal Bond Market (SSRN) with Tao Li

Presentations (* by coauthor): Virtual Municipal Finance Workshop 2021*, AFA 2022 Poster, Midwest Finance Association 2022*

Abstract: We study the functioning of the primary market for municipal bonds during the COVID-19 pandemic. The average offering yield increases while the number of new issues drops when county-level COVID-19 case and death counts rise, with investors exhibiting great concern over coronavirus-related mortality. Exploiting the differential timing of the implementation of local mitigating policies, we find that emergency declarations exert an adverse effect, leading to a 69 basis-point increase in offering yields and a significant drop in new issuance. Investors shun transportation and dedicated tax bonds or bonds issued in fiscally unhealthy states. Announcements of first cases and stay-at-home orders, however, have weak impacts. The Federal Reserve's unprecedented interventions through two municipal liquidity facilities have calmed the market. Offering yields on average dropped 200 basis points on March 23, 2020 alone. New issue volume also rises gradually over the study period. Municipal bond yields, however, have remained elevated well above normal levels, potentially reflecting ongoing fiscal challenges that municipal governments face. 

Time is money: Real effects of relationship lending in a crisis

Journal of Banking & Finance, 2021, Volume 133 (with Christopher James and Yangfan Sun)

Ph.D. Second-Year Paper

Best Doctoral Paper Award in Financial Markets and Institutions, Southwestern Finance Association 2021

Abstract: We argue that proximity to their loan customers, focus on small business lending and their relatively simple organizational structure allowed community banks to respond faster to loan requests made as part of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), compared to larger banks. Consistent with this argument we find, controlling for local economic conditions, more PPP lending per small business in areas where community banks held larger share of total bank branches and assets, as well as in areas where community banks made more PPP loans relative to larger banks. In addition, consistent with a greater reliance on relationship lending, we find that the distance between borrowers and lenders is significantly less at community banks than at larger banks. Finally, consistent with differences in lending technology, we find distance is a more important determinant of Small Business Administration (SBA) loan performance at community banks than at larger banks.

Friend or Foe? Cross-Border Links, Contagious Banking Crises, and Joint Use of Macroprudential Policies

Journal of Financial Services Research volume 60, pages 55–79 (2021)  (with Seung Mo Choi and Laura E. Kodres)

Pre-Ph.D. Work

Abstract: In this study, we examine whether the joint use of macroprudential policies by countries that have strong financial or trade links can help slow the spread of a banking crisis from country to country. Research has shown that a financial crisis in one country is more likely to be “contagious” if that country has strong connections with other countries through trade or financial linkages. While macroprudential policies can be used to mitigate the risk of a financial crisis domestically, we find that the implementation of tighter macroprudential policies in closely linked countries can additionally help to lower the increases in real credit growth and house prices (known precursors to a crisis). As well, it can also lower the probability of a domestic banking crisis, even after controlling for these precursors, although this effect could take a couple of years to materialize. This paper sheds light on the potential for coordinated usage of macroprudential policies to help promote global financial stability.