Introduction to Credit Risk Modeling by Bluhm, Christian; Overbeck, Ludger; Wagner, Christoph;

Short description:

While continuing to focus on common mathematical approaches to model credit portfolios, this second edition presents updates on model developments that have occurred since the publication of the best-selling first edition. It contains a new section on multi-period models and discusses recent developments in structured credit. Along with many worked out examples and numerical results, this edition also includes an expanded section on techniques for the generation of loss distributions as well as discussions of new topics, such as spectral risk measures, an axiomatic approach to capital allocation, and nonhomogeneous Markov chains.

Long description:

Contains Nearly 100 Pages of New Material

The recent financial crisis has shown that credit risk in particular and finance in general remain important fields for the application of mathematical concepts to real-life situations. While continuing to focus on common mathematical approaches to model credit portfolios, Introduction to Credit Risk Modeling, Second Edition presents updates on model developments that have occurred since the publication of the best-selling first edition.

New to the Second Edition

• An expanded section on techniques for the generation of loss distributions


• Introductory sections on new topics, such as spectral risk measures, an axiomatic approach to capital allocation, and nonhomogeneous Markov chains


• Updated sections on the probability of default, exposure-at-default, loss-given-default, and regulatory capital


• A new section on multi-period models


• Recent developments in structured credit

The financial crisis illustrated the importance of effectively communicating model outcomes and ensuring that the variation in results is clearly understood by decision makers. The crisis also showed that more modeling and more analysis are superior to only one model. This accessible, self-contained book recommends using a variety of models to shed light on different aspects of the true nature of a credit risk problem, thereby allowing the problem to be viewed from different angles.

… this is a concise book for exploring the limitations of credit risk models and, to a lesser degree, asset valuation models. Read this book for a companionable journey through some of the limiting assumptions that make the models tractable. … it may be the first one [book] that wastes no time in getting to the point, and moving on.
—Annals of Actuarial Science, Vol. 5, June 2011

Bluhm, Overbeck, and Wagner offer help to mathematicians and physicists leaving the academy to work as risk or portfolio managers. For this introduction, they focus on main themes rather than details, and on portfolio rather than single obligor risk. … this second [edition] takes account of problems in the banking industry [from] 2007-09.
—SciTech Book News, February 2011

Having a valid and up-to-date credit risk model (or models) is one of the most important aspects in today’s risk management. The models require quite a bit of technical as well as practical know-how. Introduction to Credit Risk Modeling serves this purpose well. … it would best fit the practitioner’s needs. For students it can also be of great use, as an introductory course for credit risk models. A great first step into credit risk modeling. … The book provides a nice coherent overview of the methods used in capital allocation. … The book is written in a mixture of theorem-proof and applied styles. … I find this rather pleasing, as it gives the reader the edge of theoretical exposition, which is extremely important. … One really useful side of the book is that it provides step-by-step guide to methods presented. This should be really appreciated in industry and among students. …
—MAA Reviews, January 2011

Praise for the First Edition
This is an outstanding book on the default models that are used internally by financial institutions. This practical book delves into the mathematics, the assumptions and the approximations that practitioners apply to make these models work.
—Glyn A. Holton, Contingency Analysis

There are so many financial tools available today and numbers are likely to grow in the future. If you work in this field of credit risk modeling, it is worth looking at the theoretical background, and this book is a well-rounded introduction.
—Journal of the Operational Research Society

As an introductory survey, it does an admirable job. … this book is an important guide into the field of credit risk models. Mainly for the practitioner … It is well written, fairly easy to follow.
—Horst Behncke, Zentralblatt MATH

Table of Contents:

The Basics of Credit Risk Management. Modeling Correlated Defaults. Asset Value Models. The CreditRisk⁺ Model. Risk Measures and Capital Allocation. Term Structure of Default Probability. Credit Derivatives. Collateralized Debt Obligations. References. Index.