The Financial Safety Net – a necessity in a turbulent financial world

Abstract

Over the last years we observed that whenever crisis hits, interest in guarantee arrangements rises. The current financial crisis is no exception in this respect. It turns the spotlight on the operation of the financial safety net and provides policy makers with a unique opportunity to monitor its performance and, more specifically, to identify its strengths and weaknesses. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the need of financial safety nets in a world characterized by deep financial disruptions, describing also the main components of a well-built financial safety net.