I. Stochastic Models and Processes · 12. novembre 2023

The Merton model, essential in credit risk analysis, views a company's equity as a call option on its assets, crucial for default probability assessment. Using the Black-Scholes formula, it combines equity with zero-coupon debt for valuation. Despite its innovativeness, the model's reliance on market data and idealistic market assumptions limit its applicability. This has spurred alternative approaches like reduced form models, addressing these shortcomings in credit risk evaluation.