Chapter 6: Q.7 (page 188)
What is a key function of credit-rating agencies? Do credit-rating agencies always provide reliable information? What was the role of credit-rating agencies in the sub-prime crisis of ?
Short Answer
Credit rating agencies were established to provide data to lenders, which allow them have more information about who they are giving money to. The credit-rating agencies are independent and must be accurate to maintain their reputation and trustworthiness. In the 2008 sub-prime crisis the credit-rating agencies had financial incentive to rate low quality borrowers as better than they were.