Stefanescu, Catalina, Radu Tunaru, Stuart M. Turnbull, "The Credit Rating Process and Estimation of Transition Probabilities: A Bayesian approach", Journal of Empirical Finance, Vol. 16, No. 2, (March 2009), pp. 216-234.

Abstract: The Basel II Accord requires banks to establish rigorous statistical procedures for the estimation and validation of default and ratings transition probabilities. This raises great technical challenges when sufficient default data are not available, as is the case for low default portfolios. We develop a new model that describes the typical internal credit rating process used by banks. The model captures patterns of obligor heterogeneity and ratings migration dependence through unobserved systematic macroeconomic shocks. We describe a Bayesian hierarchical framework for model calibration from historical rating transition data, and show how the predictive performance of the model can be assessed, even with sparse event data. Finally, we analyze a rating transition data set from Standard and Poor's during 1981-2007. Our results have implications for the current Basel II policy debate on the magnitude of default probabilities assigned to low risk assets.

JEL Classification: G21, G28, G32, C11, C13, C52.

Keywords: Ratings transitions, Bayesian inference, Latent factors, Markov Chain Monte Carlo.

Books Referenced in this paper:  (what is this?)

Download paper (260K PDF) 40 pages

Most Cited Books within Credit:Other Papers

[