International financial stress spillovers during times of unconventional monetary policy interventions

Abstract

In this study, we estimate a Bayesian global vector autoregressive model to uncover the effects of financial stress on output growth, inflation, and interest rates, accounting for several advanced and emerging economies for a period spanning from February 2008 until May 2022. We construct a financial stress index applicable to all countries, tracking periods of financial instability in the economies, and employ shadow short rates as a proxy measure of unconventional monetary policy. This study provides strong evidence that financial stress shocks are transmitted abroad as financial stress increases in all the countries in the sample. Our results also show that financial stress innovation generates important domestic and cross-border output, inflation, and interest rate spillovers for several countries. Additionally, we identify the active role of the financial and bank credit channels in the transmission of shocks across financial systems, while macroprudential policy can intercept the propagation of the shock. Our results carry policy implications for monetary and regulatory authorities.