ThinkTankWeekly

The GSIB Surcharge Is Un-American — But That’s Just the Start of the Problem

CATO | 2026-05-04 | economy

Topics: United States, Economy

Visit original source

ThinkTankWeekly provides a curated entry and summary only. Full text and PDF remain on the publisher's website.

English Summary

The article argues that modern banking regulations, specifically the Global Systemically Important Bank (GSIB) surcharge and complex risk-weighted capital frameworks, are overly punitive and counterproductive to economic health. The author contends that the GSIB concept is flawed, as bank failure is not the primary systemic risk, and the existing regulatory rules are unnecessarily complex, creating compliance jobs rather than safety. For policy, the publication advocates for Congress to eliminate the GSIB surcharge and expand the use of simpler, non-risk-weighted ratios, ideally allowing banks, investors, and customers to determine optimal capital levels, aligning with free-market principles.

中文摘要

本文主張,當前的銀行監管規定,特別是全球系統重要性銀行(GSIB)附加費和複雜的風險加權資本框架,過度懲罰性,並阻礙了經濟的健康發展。作者認為,GSIB的概念存在缺陷,因為銀行倒閉並非主要的系統性風險;此外,現行的監管規則過於複雜,其結果是創造了合規性工作而非真正的安全保障。在政策建議方面,該出版物呼籲國會廢除GSIB附加費,並擴大採用更簡化的、非風險加權的比例,理想情況下應允許銀行、投資者和客戶自行決定最佳的資本水平,從而符合自由市場原則。

Related Entries

  1. 1.
    2026-07-13 | china_indopacific | 2026-W29 | Topics: China, Europe, Indo-Pacific, Middle East, NATO, Nuclear, Russia, Taiwan, Trade, Ukraine, United States

    The China-Russia partnership is a highly consequential geopolitical alignment driven by a shared goal of countering U.S. hegemony and reshaping the international order into a multipolar system. While not a formal alliance, this relationship is strengthened by Russia's increasing economic reliance on China following Western sanctions, which allows Beijing to leverage its influence. Policymakers should note that while the partnership projects deep solidarity (as seen in high-level summits), it remains complex and limited by mutual mistrust and competing strategic interests. This enduring alignment poses a significant challenge to U.S. interests and requires continued diplomatic vigilance.

    Read at Brookings

  2. 2.
    2026-07-13 | defense | 2026-W29 | Topics: China, Europe, Indo-Pacific, Middle East, NATO, Russia, Ukraine, United States

    The article argues that the U.S., through recent policy signals—such as questioning NATO's value or sympathizing with great-power territorial claims—is inadvertently adopting the core tenets of non-alignment, prioritizing transactional national interests over binding alliances. Historically, while non-alignment allowed developing nations to gain benefits without commitment, the analysis notes that this approach lacks the deep trust and shared obligations necessary for robust security structures. The implication is critical: by undermining established alliances, the U.S. risks losing its greatest strategic asset—the network of mutual commitments—as allies actively seek alternative bilateral or regional defense pacts.

    Read at CFR

  3. 3.
    2026-07-13 | health | 2026-W29 | Topics: United States

    The roundtable established that implementing generational bans represents a powerful, long-term strategy for tackling deeply entrenched public health crises like tobacco use. Using the UK’s permanent ban on selling cigarettes to those born after 2009 as key evidence, experts analyzed how such policies fundamentally alter market dynamics and consumer behavior over time. These lessons suggest that other nations facing persistent addiction challenges should consider adopting similar age-gating or generational restrictions to accelerate decline and set a precedent for future public health policy interventions.

    Read at CFR

  4. 4.
    2026-07-13 | energy | 2026-W29 | Topics: Climate, Trade, United States

    The CSIS analysis finds that the U.S. grid's regulatory framework for connecting large loads is severely fragmented and unprepared for the massive electricity demands posed by AI data centers. FERC has mandated significant reforms across six regional operators, requiring them to modernize interconnection studies, prevent cost-shifting, and establish clear tariffs for co-located generation. Evidence shows that most operators fall far short of these new standards, necessitating complex, multi-year policy adjustments rather than simple compliance. Policymakers must coordinate federal regulation (FERC) with state utilities to accelerate grid modernization, ensuring energy affordability while maintaining technological competitiveness.

    Read at CSIS

  5. 5.
    2026-07-13 | economy | 2026-W29 | Topics: AI, United States

    The Brookings report argues that while modern economies are fundamentally regional in nature, effective governance requires states to align their authority and resources with empowered local cross-sector networks. Current state economic development systems are often fragmented and ill-equipped to manage structural shifts like AI or the energy transition. To modernize, policymakers must adopt a structured 'state-regional' model where states define strategic clusters and allocate capital, while regions coordinate execution using deep local knowledge. This approach has proven successful in catalyzing billions in private investment by ensuring state resources are deployed strategically across multiple sectors to achieve measurable economic growth.

    Read at Brookings