Financial Crises and the Central Bank: Lessons from Japan During the 1920s

Masato Shizume*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this chapter, we look at the conduct of prudential policy in Japan during the 1920s. A series of financial crises following a boom during World War I marked the turning point for the emergence of prudential policy in Japan. An economic backlash after the war created mounting bad loans. After the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) introduced a special treatment facility for the devastated area. The BOJ hoped to rescue solvent but illiquid financial institutions, but the facility was abused by banks that were already in financial distress, paving the way toward a financial crisis. Banking panic spread nationwide in the spring of 1927. In 1928, the authorities introduced new arrangements for prudential policy with mergers and acquisitions, new types of regulations, and dual inspection by the Ministry of Finance and the BOJ. These arrangements restored financial stability while imposing a new constraint on monetary policy.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationStudies in Economic History
PublisherSpringer
Pages131-148
Number of pages18
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

Publication series

NameStudies in Economic History
ISSN (Print)2364-1797
ISSN (Electronic)2364-1800

Keywords

  • Central bank
  • Financial crisis
  • Japan
  • Prudential policy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • History
  • Economics, Econometrics and Finance(all)

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