Can International Capital Standards Strengthen Banks in Emerging Markets?
Author InfoLiliana Rojas-Suarez (Institute for International Economics) Abstract Who should determine banks’ capital standards: authorities or markets? What is the right definition of core capital: equity only or equity plus subordinated debt? Can the assessment of banks’ individual credit risks by external rating agencies be of equal or better quality than the assessments derived from banks’ own internal rating systems? These are some of the key financial regulatory issues currently being discussed by analysts in industrial countries, especially in the context of the proposed modification to the Basel Capital Adequacy Accord: Basel II is expected to replace the original 1988 Accord. With a few exceptions, these issues are certainly not at the center of the debate in emerging market financial circles. There, the financial issues at hand depend on the country’s level of development. For the least developed countries, reform agendas are just advancing in the implementation of accounting
