Government bond risk premiums in the EU revisited: the impact of the financial crisis

Ludger Schuknecht, Juergen von Hagen and Guido Wolswijk

No 1152, Working Paper Series from European Central Bank

Abstract: This note looks at US$ and DM/Euro denominated government bond spreads relative to US and German benchmark bonds before and after the start of the current financial crisis. The study finds, first, that bond yield spreads before and during the crisis can largely be explained on the basis of economic principles. Second, markets penalise fiscal imbalances much more strongly after the Lehman default in September 2008 than before. There is also a significant increase in the spread on non-benchmark bonds due to higher general risk aversion, and German bonds obtained a safe-haven investment status similar to that of the US which they did not have before the crisis. These findings underpin the need for achieving sound fiscal positions in good times and complying with the Stability and Growth Pact. JEL Classification: E43, E62, H63, H74

Keywords: crisis; fiscal policy; government debt; interest rates; risk aversion; safe haven (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eec and nep-upt
Note: 175489
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (105)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Government bond risk premiums in the EU revisited: The impact of the financial crisis (2011)
Working Paper: Government Bond Risk Premiums in the EU revisited: The Impact of the Financial Crisis (2009)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ecb:ecbwps:20101152

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