We utilize the Eurosystem securities lending facilities as a laboratory to investigate the impact of collateral scarcity on market functioning. The reduction of securities lending fees, implemented in November 2020, provides a natural experiment for...
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ZBW - Leibniz-Informationszentrum Wirtschaft, Standort Kiel
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We utilize the Eurosystem securities lending facilities as a laboratory to investigate the impact of collateral scarcity on market functioning. The reduction of securities lending fees, implemented in November 2020, provides a natural experiment for our analyses. This policy change results in a surge in the utilization of securities lending facilities, particularly for bonds with limited supply elasticity in the repo market. We find no evidence of substitution effects; instead, the overall activity in the repo market expands through the collateral multiplier. The improved pricing conditions alleviate collateral scarcity and enhance market quality in both the repo and cash markets.