Viewpoint Papers

How can regulators determine which banks to hold to tougher standards to reduce risks to the financial system? U.S. bank regulators often use asset-size thresholds, assuming that larger banks pose more risks than smaller banks. This OFR viewpoint argues that a multifactor approach is superior to considering size alone in determining systemic importance. (Viewpoint Paper no. 17-04)

This viewpoint describes the OFR’s approach to preparing and publishing a set of standards for creating and describing financial instrument reference data through a private-sector solution with public-sector involvement. (Viewpoint Paper no. 17-03)

Reforms after the financial crisis promoted the use of central counterparties, or CCPs, which stand between the two parties to a derivatives contract. According to new data, CCPs hold enough resources to handle the failure of two members, and those resources are highly liquid and of high credit quality. Still, data gaps remain. (Viewpoint Paper no. 17-02)

Firms and regulators widely agree that cybersecurity incidents can threaten the stability of the financial system. Less understood is how to address these risks. In this viewpoint, the OFR looks at how U.S. financial firms and regulators can build on efforts to bolster resilience and recovery. (Viewpoint Paper no. 17-01)

What approaches deliver the best results in collecting regulatory data? This OFR viewpoint paper offers guidelines for collecting comprehensive, high quality, and interoperable data for financial stability analysis, market monitoring, and policymaking. The paper also identifies pitfalls that financial regulators may encounter. (Viewpoint Paper no. 16-01)