4.4.2 Market Failure in Financial Markets (2024)

This study note for Edexcel covers Market Failure in Financial Markets

Topic: Market Failure in the Financial Sector

Market failure occurs when the free market mechanism fails to allocate resources efficiently, leading to suboptimal outcomes for society. In the financial sector, several factors can contribute to market failures. In this set of study notes, we will explore key concepts related to market failure in the financial sector, including:

1. Asymmetric Information

  • Asymmetric information occurs when one party in a transaction has more information than the other. In the financial sector, this can lead to adverse selection and moral hazard problems.
  • Adverse selection: Occurs when individuals with hidden information about their riskiness (e.g., borrowers with poor credit history) are more likely to seek financial products (e.g., loans). This can lead to higher default rates for lenders.
  • Moral hazard: Arises when one party, typically after a transaction, has an incentive to behave differently because of incomplete information. For example, borrowers may take on excessive risks if they believe they won't bear the full consequences of their actions.

2. Externalities

  • Externalities are spillover effects that affect parties not directly involved in a transaction. In finance, externalities can result from risky behaviors of financial institutions.
  • Negative externalities: Financial institutions may engage in risky practices (e.g., excessive lending) that can lead to systemic risks affecting the entire economy. The 2008 financial crisis is an example of negative externalities.
  • Positive externalities: A well-functioning financial sector can benefit the broader economy by efficiently allocating capital and promoting economic growth.

3. Moral Hazard

  • Moral hazard refers to the risk that one party may take on excessive risks because they believe they are protected from the full consequences of their actions.
  • In the financial sector, moral hazard can arise when banks and financial institutions believe they will be bailed out by the government in the event of a financial crisis. This can lead to reckless behavior and excessive risk-taking.

4. Speculation and Market Bubbles

  • Speculation involves buying assets (e.g., stocks or real estate) with the expectation of profiting from price increases, rather than from the asset's intrinsic value.
  • Market bubbles occur when asset prices rise significantly above their fundamental values due to speculation and irrational exuberance. Bubbles often burst, leading to market crashes and financial instability.

5. Market Rigging

  • Market rigging refers to the manipulation of financial markets to gain unfair advantages.
  • Examples include insider trading (trading based on non-public, material information), market manipulation (e.g., pump-and-dump schemes), and collusion among market participants to distort prices.
  • Market rigging undermines market integrity and can lead to investor losses.

Understanding these concepts is crucial for A-level students studying economics, as it helps them analyze and address the complexities and challenges associated with market failures in the financial sector. Effective regulation and oversight are essential to mitigate these market failures and promote financial stability.

4.4.2 Market Failure in Financial Markets (2024)

FAQs

4.4.2 Market Failure in Financial Markets? ›

Financial markets can experience market failure for several reasons, including: Moral hazard

Moral hazard
In economics, a moral hazard is a situation where an economic actor has an incentive to increase its exposure to risk because it does not bear the full costs of that risk. For example, when a corporation is insured, it may take on higher risk knowing that its insurance will pay the associated costs.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Moral_hazard
: When investors are protected from the consequences of their actions, they may engage in riskier behavior than they would otherwise.

What is the role of the financial markets 4.4 1? ›

To facilitate the exchange of goods and services

Financial markets can make it easier to exchange goods and services from the physical market, by providing a way that buyers and sellers can interact and transfer funds.

What is a financial market failure? ›

Financial market failure occurs when money, equity and bond markets failure to achieve an efficient and/or equitable outcome. This can lead to economic and social costs including macro instability and loss of trust and confidence in financial institutions.

What are the 5 most common market failures? ›

Market failure is a circ*mstance in which the allotment of goods and/or services are not adequate. There are five major elements that, if lacking or weak, can cause a market failure. The five major elements include: competition, information, mobility of resources, externalities, and distribution of public goods.

How to correct market failure in financial markets? ›

Market failure can be caused by a lack of information, market control, public goods, and externalities. Market failures can be corrected through government intervention, such as new laws or taxes, tariffs, subsidies, and trade restrictions.

What are the 4 roles of financial markets? ›

Financial markets provide liquidity, capital, and participation that are essential for economic growth and stability. Without financial markets, capital could not be allocated efficiently, and economic activity such as commerce and trade, investments, and growth opportunities would be greatly diminished.

How do you explain market failure? ›

Market failure is the economic situation defined by an inefficient distribution of goods and services in the free market. Furthermore, the individual incentives for rational behavior do not lead to rational outcomes for the group.

What is the leading cause of financial failure? ›

However, often a financial crisis is caused by overvalued assets, systemic and regulatory failures, and resulting consumer panic, such as a large number of customers withdrawing funds from a bank after learning of the institution's financial troubles.

What does market failure lead to? ›

Inequality, which is a component of market failure, can eventually lead to poverty when wealth is not distributed equally throughout society. This can be remedied with government intervention, such as by taxing the wealthy more or incorporating subsidies for those below the poverty level.

How can market failure be corrected? ›

Another way to correct market failure is to use market-based instruments, such as tradable permits, auctions, or vouchers. These instruments aim to create or improve markets that are missing or imperfect, and to use price signals and incentives to achieve efficient outcomes.

What are the 4 types of market failure? ›

The main types of market failure include asymmetric information, concentrated market power, public goods and externalities.

What is a real example of market failure? ›

This is when human actors in a market are affecting the environment negatively as a result of their activity. Examples of this include pollution, use of non-renewable resources such as coal, and damage to ecosystems through things like farming.

Why are financial markets failing? ›

Financial Market Failure occurs when free financial markets fail to allocate financial products at the socially optimum level of output. This creates a misallocation of resources within financial markets. This can be caused by the over production and overconsumption of risky financial assets.

What are the two main causes of market failure? ›

Answer and Explanation: The leading causes of market failure are externalities and market power.

What is an example of a financial market failure? ›

Market rigging

The Libor Scandal is an example of this. It was discovered that banks were inflating or deflating their interest rates to make a profit from trade or to make them seem more financially reliable. Loans such as mortgages, student loans and other financial products use Libor as a reference rate.

What is the primary role of the financial markets quizlet? ›

The primary role of financial markets is to facilitate the flows of funds from individuals and businesses that have surplus funds to individuals, businesses, and governments that have needs for funds in excess of their income.

What is the role of the financial markets Authority FMA )? ›

We were established in 2011 as an Independent Crown Entity. Our statutory duty is to promote and facilitate the development of fair, efficient, and transparent financial markets; and to promote the confident and informed participation of businesses, investors, and consumers in the financial markets.

What is the role of the financial system? ›

The five key functions of a financial system are: (i) producing information ex ante about possible investments and allocate capital; (ii) monitoring investments and exerting corporate governance after providing finance; (iii) facilitating the trading, diversification, and management of risk; (iv) mobilizing and pooling ...

What is the role of the financial markets advisory? ›

FMA advises financial institutions, regulators and government entities on their most critical and complex financial issues – from bank stress-testing to unwinding a portfolio of assets to designing and executing bond purchase programs to support to the economy.

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