The Financial Crisis, Basel Accords and Bank Regulations: A Conceptual Framework

Abstract

This theoretical study presents the different phases for the evolution of Basel Accords since 1988, and the continual efforts of Basel Committee on banking supervision to set out an effective framework to improve the banking sector governance and performance. In literature, compliance with Basel requirements concerning minimum capital requirements, powerful supervision and effective market discipline through information transparency and disclosure have attracted many researchers to study its impact on bank performance and cost of capital. In spite of the risk-based capital adequacy, regulatory and supervisory requirements set by Basel Accords, the financial crisis 2007, which causes instability and turmoil in the whole banking sector, was induced mainly by weak risk management measures, such as stress testing and other risk management tools that were unable to forecast the losses and the adverse unexpected outcomes and determine the size of capital needed to overcome severe shocks.