Financial Crisis

 

Financial Crisis

 Definition: Financial Crisis refers to a situation in which there is an acute decline in the value of assets. Also, the businesses and consumers are not able to pay off their debts and the banks face liquidity shortages. It is related to a bank run – a situation in which many investors sell their assets or withdraw money from their accounts, as they feel like the value of their deposits will go down if they continue to keep it in the financial institution.

Financial Crisis reflects a situation in which various financial assets including stocks, real estate, fuel etc. lose a considerable amount of their face value. A period of economic boom and large scale credit extension to borrowers precedes this phase.

 

Financial Crisis is a combination of events like:

1.   Considerable changes in credit volume and asset prices

2.   Drastic disruption in financial inter mediation and supply of external financing

3.   Large-scale balance sheet problems

4.   Need for large-scale government support

Because a financial crisis is an amalgam of multidimensional events. Hence, one cannot characterize it through a single indicator. Assets and credit booms which later turn into busts are the prior stages of the financial crisis.

 

What is the real and financial sector implication of this crisis?

It has both financial and real effects; wherein financial effects are reflected in:

·         The deceleration in GDP growth

·         Decrease in reserves

·         Fall in equity prices

As against, the real effects of the crisis can be seen in:

·         Large output losses

·         Various macroeconomic variables like consumption, production and investment also experience a decline.

 

Types of Financial Crisis

Financial Crises can take many forms. However, it is majorly classified into four types, which we have discussed here in detail:

 

Currency Crisis

It implies a situation in which there is an abrupt and acute fall in the value of the currency of a country along with volatile markets and a lack of confidence in the economy. In this, the country faces a continuous and frequent rise and fall in the value of the currency.

It may or may not be predictable. Factors like government, investors, central banks or a combination thereof, often trigger the financial crisis. It is caused due to the chronic balance of payments deficits. It results in economic damage on a large scale and capital loss.

Sudden Stop Crisis

It implies a sudden stop or decline in the supply of foreign capital or private capital into the economy which jeopardizes the ability of the economy to pay its external trade and financial needs.

Debt Crisis

It implies a condition prevalent in the economy wherein the nation is not able to repay its government debt. It arises when the revenue earned through taxes is less in comparison to expenditures in a long term.

You must be aware of the fact that every government finances its expenditures by arranging money from the tax revenues. And if tax revenues are inadequate, the government can offset this loss by selling treasury bills in the open market to investors.

Banking Crisis

This situation arises when a number of banks face severe issues relating to solvency and liquidity, at the same time.

To be precise, a banking crisis takes place when the corporate sector and finance sector of an economy encounters multiple frauds, scams and defaults. Due to this the banking system of the economy collapses. And the banks and financial institutions face difficulty in the repayment of contracts in a timely manner. Hence, there is a rise in non-performing assets, i.e. NPAs. As a result of which the overall banking system capital is drained.

R.S.AKASH VARMA (22UCM003)

J.HARIBHARATHI (22UCM018)

II B.Com