Navigating the financial crisis in Helvetic Waters: An analysis of the banking sector (2007-09)

Abstract

As has been argued throughout this paper, the different way in which banks have been affected by the crisis is closely linked to their distinct business model. Consequently, the characteristic structure of the balance sheet in big banks and ethical banks is correlated with their divergent dynamic during the crisis. While the financial turmoil has left the business approach of ethical banks unchanged, as evidenced in the striking stability of their balance sheet from 2007 to 2009, the pattern shown by big banks has substantially changed over this same period. These developments would tend to suggest the need to reform the business model of big banks. There is no clear empirical evidence that a banking system with a large number of small institutions would be any more stable than the system as it currently stands. Besides, financing certain big projects would always require the existence of large international banks. Both types of financial institutions are in fact complementary. How to regulate the banking and financial sector is thus a complex and multifaceted issue. One cannot impose the same requirements on big international-oriented banks and small domestic banks. As this paper has tried to demonstrate, both have a distinct business model.