2 The Limitations of Deposit Protection Systems

Abstract This chapter first analyses the moral hazard problem arising from the provision of deposit insurance. Moral hazard is a powerful force distorting market behaviour, which demands a variety of regulatory techniques, as well as market incentives, to neutralize its destabilizing effects. Corporate governance issues are also relevant, because banks’ internal controls and balances have a key impact on the extent of moral hazard. In addition to a well-designed deposit protection system, it is necessary to enlist the support of banking regulation and supervision to combat moral hazard. Drawing on the UK deposit protection system, the chapter presents a number of ambiguities inherent to the design and functions of a deposit guarantee scheme. It concludes that the existence of effective prudential regulation and supervision are prerequisites for deposit insurance.