Modelling tail credit risk using transition matrices

David Allen, A.R. Kramadibrata, Robert Powell and A.K. Singh

Mathematics and Computers in Simulation (MATCOM), 2013, vol. 93, issue C, 67-75

Abstract: Innovative transition matrix techniques are used to compare extreme credit risk for Australian and US companies both prior to and during the global financial crisis (GFC). Transition matrix methodology is traditionally used to measure Value at Risk (VaR), a measure of risk below a specified threshold. We use it to measure Conditional Value at Risk (CVaR) which is the risk beyond VaR. We find significant differences in VaR and CVaR measurements in both the US and the Australian markets. We also find a greater differential between VaR and CVaR for the US as compared to Australia, reflecting the more extreme credit risk that was experienced in the US during the GFC. Traditional transition matrix methodology assumes that all borrowers of the same credit rating transition equally, whereas we incorporate an adjustment based on industry share price fluctuations to allow for unequal transition among industries. Our revised model shows greater change between Pre-GFC and GFC total credit risk than the traditional model, meaning that those industries that were riskiest during the GFC are not the same industries that were riskiest Pre-GFC. Overall, our analysis finds that our innovative modelling techniques are better able to account for the impact of extreme risk circumstances and industry composition than traditional transition matrix techniques.

Keywords: Credit models; Conditional Value at Risk; Probability of default; Transition matrix (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:matcom:v:93:y:2013:i:c:p:67-75

DOI: 10.1016/j.matcom.2012.09.011

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