The Market for OTC Derivatives [report]

Andrew Atkeson, Andrea Eisfeldt, Pierre-Olivier Weill
2013 unpublished
We develop a model of equilibrium entry, trade, and price formation in over-thecounter (OTC) markets. Banks trade derivatives to share an aggregate risk subject to two trading frictions: they must pay a fixed entry cost, and they must limit the size of the positions taken by their traders because of risk-management concerns. Although all banks in our model are endowed with access to the same trading technology, some large banks endogenously arise as "dealers," trading mainly to provide
more » ... ation services, while medium sized banks endogenously participate as "customers" mainly to share risks. We use the model to address positive questions regarding the growth in OTC markets as trading frictions decline, and normative questions of how regulation of entry impacts welfare. * We would like to thank, for fruitful discussions and suggestions, 1 1 The costs of concentration have been a key concern to regulators of OTC derivatives markets. See, for example, the quarterly reports from the Office of the Comptroller of the currency at www.occ.treas.gov/topics/capital-markets/financial-markets/trading/derivatives/derivativesquarterly-report.html, as well as ECB (2009), and Terzi and Ulucay (2011). party risk, working paper.
doi:10.3386/w18912 fatcat:fpsnvidobra7ppishx2glkapzu