When a Hedge Turns into Speculation: Interest Rate Swaps at Canadian Universities.

The present paper intends to develop an analytical condition for an interest rate swap (variable rate for fixed rate) to be beneficial and examines the incidence and effectiveness of swaps in the Canadian university sector. The paper demonstrates the lack of any cost advantage in a two-party swap through a contradiction analysis and then tests whether there is evidence that the use of this derivative is indeed acting (or not) as an effective risk management tool. The paper also applies a nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test to determine whether the size of the university is a factor in the effectiveness of swap. Of the 31 Canadian universities using swaps, only five pass the analytical condition to be judged as an effective swap. The balance fails the test, indicating that the usage of the swap, in essence, unhedges a natural hedge that the institution had. The results also indicate that university size plays a role in whether the hedge is effective or not. This paper is unique in applying a quantitative test to determine swap effectiveness in the Canadian university sector. It also points to the necessity for management of these institutions to better understand the effects and uses of derivative financing instruments for hedging purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]