The state as the investor of last resort: a comparative study of banking crises in Denmark and Sweden

This article addresses the role of the state in bailouts, i.e. government objectives and measures during banking crises. Our main question concerns the incentives and measures that governments pursue in a state of a systemic banking crisis, and why they are launched. What have been the objectives an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	The Scandinavian economic history review 2019-01, Vol.67 (2), p.171-189
Main Authors:	Sjögren, Hans, Iversen, Martin Jes
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	19th century Bailout Bailouts Banking banking crisis Capitalism Commercial banks Comparative studies Crisis intervention Economic history Financial history government intervention Incentives path dependency State role state-ownership
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	This article addresses the role of the state in bailouts, i.e. government objectives and measures during banking crises. Our main question concerns the incentives and measures that governments pursue in a state of a systemic banking crisis, and why they are launched. What have been the objectives and operations when a government has decided to act as an investor of last resort and take control of commercial banks? The answer is limited to cover the financial history of two countries. The study unveils government interventions in the latest crises in Denmark and Sweden, and critically analyse which objectives justified the setting up of organisations for financial stability. The two country-cases differ in terms of historical experience, context, and time-period. We compare intrinsic principles and perceptions for government intervention, with a focus on bailouts and state-owned banks. We argue that the implementation of measures dates back to the early phases of capitalism in the 19th century i.e. is part of a historical institutional pattern. The similarities shown indicate that there is an international standard for a public-private arrangement ensuring financial stability. Our results relate to the discussion of launching effective and legitimate state policies during and after a systemic banking crisis.
ISSN:	0358-5522 1750-2837 1750-2837