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ECONOMIC REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

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Figure 6-18<br />

Systemic Risk (SRISK), 2005–2016<br />

Billions of U.S. Dollars<br />

1,200<br />

1,000<br />

800<br />

600<br />

SRISK: U.S.<br />

Financials Total<br />

400<br />

200<br />

Oct-2016<br />

0<br />

2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017<br />

Source: New York University Volatility Laboratory.<br />

Ending the Problem of Too-Big-To-Fail<br />

Another component of systemic risk has been the view that some<br />

firms may be too large to fail without threatening the whole financial system.<br />

If these firms are indeed “too big to fail” (TBTF) it gives them a substantial<br />

advantage as their counterparties in transactions will know they are less<br />

likely to fail than similar firms without an implicit government guarantee.<br />

(See Box 6-4 on the TBTF premium.) The implicit guarantee may also make<br />

these firms more willing to take large risks as both the owners and managers<br />

of these firms do not truly face the risk of downside scenarios as they may<br />

feel they can count on the government to bail them out. The existence of<br />

TBTF firms can also be a source of risk because their counterparties may<br />

be wrong about which firms are TBTF. For example, some assumed the<br />

government would never allow a firm like Lehman Brothers to fail and were<br />

left exposed when Lehman declared bankruptcy.<br />

The reforms of the last six years that the implementation of Basel III<br />

and Dodd-Frank Act put in place included a number of measures to address<br />

the risks posed by TBTF. First and foremost, these reforms have subjected<br />

the largest and most complex financial institutions to enhanced supervision<br />

designed to require these firms’ equity and debt holders to bear the costs<br />

of the firms’ failures. These enhanced supervisions increase in stringency<br />

based upon size and other risk factors. The most stringent rules apply<br />

Strengthening the Financial System | 393

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