Policy experiments and financial regulation: Using laboratory methods to evaluate responses to the 2007-2009 financial crisis

This paper reviews an emerging experimental literature that uses laboratory methods to both identify causes of the 2007-2009 financial crisis, and to assess the effectiveness of policies implemented in response. Papers reviewed include experiments conducted to evaluate central bank and Treasury responses to the crisis, experiments that study the consequences of interconnectedness between financial firms on financial system stability, and experiments conducted to evaluate policies intended to more effectively regulate specific types of financial institutions. Laboratory methods are ideally suited to investigating the consequences of untested policies in new environmental circumstances - just the situation provoked by the crisis. The continually evolving structure of the financial system suggests an expanded future role for laboratory methods in this area.