May 26, 2011

A quiz for the candidates to Managing Director of IMF

Sir, as a humble contribution for the selection of the best Managing Director of the IMF may I submit the following little quiz the candidates should answer:

Q1. Which type of bank clients can generate such a massive exposure so as to trigger a systemic bank crisis?

a. Those perceived as risky (small businesses and entrepreneurs)
b. Those perceived as not risky (triple-A rated)

Q2. The needs of which clients do we most expect our banks to attend to?

a. Those perceived as risky with no access to capital markets (small businesses and entrepreneurs)
b. Those perceived as not risky and with access to capital markets (triple-A rated)

Q3. The Basel Committee allows for much lower capital requirements for banks (five times less) when lending to those perceived as not risky (triple-A rated). Based on your previous answers, which would be your most likely opinion?

a. I fully agree with the Basel Committee
b. The Basel Committee might have got it all completely upside down.

Note: The responses of “b, a, and b” would qualify the candidate to proceed to further tests.