December 17, 2013

France, risk weighted capital requirements for banks, guarantees you a weak and obese economy. Any growth... just froth

Sir, Lindsay Whipp and Claire Jones report “France business activity weakens” December 17.

This is to be expected. Risk weighted capital requirements for banks which allow these to earn much higher risk-adjusted returns on equity when lending to “infallible sovereigns” and the AAAristocracy, than when lending to the “risky” medium and small businesses, entrepreneurs and start-ups can only guarantee turning our western economies into weaklings.

Distorting the banks into refinancing the safe past and not financing the more risky future is no way to create a strong and healthy economy. Any sigh of growth you might see in the interim, is pure froth… or let´s say pure fat no muscles… in other words the economy turning dangerously obese.

Even though I am aware that FT does not want to report on this, for reasons of its own, I will be remembering you about it every time I see the need for it.