Financial intermediary

Definition

A financial intermediary is an institution that acts as a middleman between savers and borrowers, facilitating the flow of funds in the economy. By pooling resources from individuals and providing loans or investments, these intermediaries play a vital role in the financial system by promoting liquidity, reducing transaction costs, and managing risk for both parties involved. They include banks, credit unions, insurance companies, and investment funds.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Financial intermediaries enhance the efficiency of financial markets by connecting those with surplus funds (savers) to those in need of funds (borrowers).
2. They provide services such as pooling deposits, offering interest on savings, and creating loans which can stimulate economic activity.
3. Financial intermediaries help diversify risk for individual investors by pooling investments across many borrowers, reducing exposure to any single default.
4. They are regulated by government entities to ensure stability and protect depositors' funds from mismanagement or fraud.
5. The health of financial intermediaries is crucial for economic stability; a failure in this sector can lead to widespread financial crises.

Review Questions

• How do financial intermediaries enhance market efficiency and liquidity?
  • Financial intermediaries enhance market efficiency by connecting savers who have surplus funds with borrowers who need capital. By pooling resources from many individuals, they reduce transaction costs and provide access to a wider range of investment opportunities. This process not only improves liquidity by making it easier for borrowers to obtain funds but also allows savers to earn interest on their deposits while maintaining access to their money.
• Discuss the role of financial intermediaries in risk management for both savers and borrowers.
  • Financial intermediaries play a significant role in risk management by diversifying investments across multiple borrowers. For savers, this means that their deposits are less likely to be impacted by the failure of any single borrower since their funds are pooled with many others. For borrowers, these institutions assess creditworthiness and provide loans based on a collective understanding of risk, allowing them to secure financing at potentially lower rates than they would without such mediation.
• Evaluate the potential consequences for the economy if financial intermediaries were to fail significantly.
  • If financial intermediaries were to fail significantly, the consequences for the economy could be severe. A collapse could lead to a credit crunch where lending ceases, limiting access to funds for businesses and consumers alike. This reduction in borrowing would hinder investment and consumption, potentially leading to economic recession. Furthermore, such failures could erode public confidence in the financial system, resulting in bank runs or a loss of savings for individuals, exacerbating economic instability.

Related terms

Liquidity: The ease with which an asset can be converted into cash without affecting its market price.

Risk management: The process of identifying, assessing, and prioritizing risks followed by coordinated efforts to minimize, control, and monitor the impact of such risks.

Capital markets: Markets where buyers and sellers engage in the trade of financial securities like stocks and bonds, which are used to raise long-term capital.