Implications of the Dodd-Frank Act*

In this review, we provide an economic assessment of the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010 in terms of the likely efficacy of the financial-sector regulation it proposes. We focus in particular on its ability to contain systemic risk, the risk that many financial firms may fail en masse, and discuss the tools it employs. Namely, we examine enhanced capital requirements for systemically important financial firms, the separation of proprietary trading from bank holding companies (the Volcker rule), the resolution authority for orderly management of large complex financial institution (LCFI) failure, and attempts to contain risks in the shadow banking system. We relate the Act to its most important predecessor, the Banking Act of 1933, and consider the desirability and implications of the Dodd-Frank Act's all-encompassing approach to the reform of financial-sector architecture and regulation.