Regulatory use of credit ratings: how it impacts the behavior of market constituents

Abstract

In July 2008 the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published three proposals relating to the use of credit ratings in its rules and forms. The proposals were designed to address concerns that the misuse of credit ratings may have contributed to the current crisis. The SEC sought market feedback regarding the effect the removal of credit rating references may produce on the markets.

This article examines the use of ratings by various market constituents, analyzes the details of the SEC proposals, and reviews the provided feedback. The main finding is that the majority of the market participants opposed the SEC proposals. Fiduciaries and regulated entities are looking to regulators to offer a common measure of risk, stable, accurate and free of conflict of interests.

Citation

Baklanova, V. (2009), "Regulatory use of credit ratings: how it impacts the behavior of market constituents", Choi, J.J. and Papaioannou, M.G. (Ed.) Credit, Currency, or Derivatives: Instruments of Global Financial Stability Or crisis? (International Finance Review, Vol. 10), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 65-103. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1569-3767(2009)0000010006