The calibration of rating models: estimation of the probability of default based on advanced pattern classification methods

All across Europe, a drama of historical proportions is unfolding as the debt crisis continues to rock the worldwide financial landscape. Whilst insecurity rises, the general public, policy makers, scientists and academics are searching high and low for independent and objective analyses that may help to assess this unusual situation. For more than a century, rating agencies had developed methods and standards to evaluate and analyze companies, projects or even sovereign countries. However, due to their dated internal processes, the independence of these rating agencies is being questioned, ra