Macroprudential policy and financial stability

Abstract

This paper tries a conceptual framing of the issue of financial stability in economic theory and also to identify solutions to address episodes of financial instability. An essential reference is Minsky’s financial instability hypothesis, which argues that a fundamental feature of the financial system is that it swings between robustness and fragility and these pendulum swings are an integral part of the process that generates the business cycle. Studies show that the effects of banking crises on economic activity are important both in magnitude and duration. Recently, macroprudential policy stood out as a central pillar in promoting financial stability in a broad sense. Regarding specific objectives of macroprudential policy, the prevalent vision refers to limiting systemic risk and macroeconomic costs of financial crises, but there are also important nuances.

Keywords

• financial stability
• macroprudential policy
• financial instability
• systemic risk
• microprudential supervision