Bank levy and bank risk-taking

Abstract

In the aftermath of the recent financial crisis, several countries implemented a bank levy. This paper studies the impact of different types of bank levies on the risk-taking behaviour of banks competing in the market for secured or unsecured debt à la Hotelling. We differentiate between three types of bank levies: a levy on secured liabilities, a levy on unsecured liabilities and a levy on risk-weighted assets. Banks collect funds and invest in either a prudent or a gambling asset. We find that a levy on secured and unsecured liabilities can prevent banks from investing in the gambling asset. A levy on risk-weighted assets also induces banks to behave more prudently. Such a levy is even more effective than a levy on liabilities if banks are well-capitalized. Finally, a guarantee on debt makes a bank levy more effective.