Financial shocks, credit spreads, and the international credit channel

Abstract

We provide evidence on the international transmission of US financial shocks, and compare their effects to monetary policy and central bank information shocks in a two-country SVAR for the US and the UK. Adverse financial shocks trigger a contraction in the US economy and an increase in credit spreads. The tightening in US credit conditions is quickly transmitted internationally, leading to an increase in credit spreads and a slowdown in economic activity in the UK. As for monetary policy and central bank information shocks, cross-country comovement in credit spreads amplifies the impact of financial shocks on the real economy. Our findings support the notion of an ‘international credit channel’ as a key transmission mechanism for cross-country spillovers.