Towards a macroprudential framework for financial supervision and regulation?

by Claudio Borio

Working Papers No 128
February 2003

Over the last decade or so, addressing financial instability has risen to the top of the policy agenda. This essay argues that in order to improve the safeguards against financial instability, it may be desirable to strengthen further the macroprudential orientation of current prudential frameworks, a process that is already under way. The essay defines, compares and contrasts the macro- and microprudential dimensions that inevitably coexist in financial regulatory and supervisory arrangements, examines the nature of financial instability against this background and draws conclusions about the broad outline of desirable policy efforts.

JEL classification: E44, G10, G20, G28, E30

Keywords: financial stability, systemic risk, macroprudential, microprudential, financial regulation, financial imbalances