Knowledge Graph-Based Modeling of Corporate Risk Factors for Financial Contagion Analysis

Authors

  • Warren Mendez Department of Computer Science, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA.
  • Kenneth Wunt Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA.
  • Leon Thornton Department of Computer Science, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.

Keywords:

financial contagion, corporate risk factors, knowledge graphs, semantic modeling, systemic risk, regulatory infrastructure

Abstract

Financial contagion research has traditionally focused on direct interbank exposures and market price co-movement, but the underlying corporate risk factor landscape remains underspecified. This paper develops a knowledge graph-based modeling framework for representing corporate risk factors extracted from regulatory filings, news, and structured firm attributes, and for analyzing how these factors propagate instability across economic networks. We discuss system-level design choices, including entity resolution, semantic normalization, relation extraction, and graph representation. The approach treats risk factors as first-class nodes linked to firms, sectors, geographies, and event types, allowing analysts to trace indirect transmission channels that are not visible in balance-sheet data. We examine structural trade-offs among coverage, precision, latency, and interpretability. We further consider governance, fairness, deployment, and regulatory acceptability. The paper argues that knowledge graph-based methods can complement established network models of contagion by enriching the causal and semantic fabric in which financial distress unfolds. It also identifies key infrastructure requirements for production deployment, including data lineage, auditability, and sustainability. Through this lens, the paper contributes to both financial stability research and the design of regulatory technology systems. Implications for future research and supervisory practice are highlighted.

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Published

2026-07-19

How to Cite

Warren Mendez, Kenneth Wunt, & Leon Thornton. (2026). Knowledge Graph-Based Modeling of Corporate Risk Factors for Financial Contagion Analysis. Global Financial Analytics Research Review, 1(1). Retrieved from https://gfarr.org/index.php/home/article/view/151