Exploring Agent-Based Methods for the Analysis of Payment Systems: A Crisis Model for StarLogo TNG

Luca Arciero, Claudia Biancotti, Leandro D'Aurizio () and Claudio Impenna ()

Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, 2009, vol. 12, issue 1, 2

Abstract: This paper presents an exploratory agent-based model of a real time gross settlement (RTGS) payment system. Banks are represented as agents who exchange payment requests, which are then settled according to a set of simple rules. The model features the main elements of a real-life system, including a central bank acting as liquidity provider, and a simplified money market. A simulation exercise using synthetic data of BI-REL (the Italian RTGS) predicts the macroscopic impact of a disruptive event on the flow of interbank payments. In our reduced-scale system, three hypothetical distinct phases emerge after the disruptive event: 1) a liquidity sink effect is generated and the participants' liquidity expectations turn out to be excessive; 2) an illusory thickening of the money market follows, along with increased payment delays; and, finally 3) defaulted obligations dramatically rise. The banks cannot staunch the losses accruing on defaults, even after they become fully aware of the critical event, and a scenario emerges in which it might be necessary for the central bank to step in as liquidity provider.

Keywords: Agent-Based Modeling; Payment Systems; RTGS; Liquidity; Crisis Simulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009-01-31
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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Working Paper: Exploring agent-based methods for the analysis of payment systems: a crisis model for StarLogo TNG (2008)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:jas:jasssj:2008-12-2

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