The most significant structuring variable for any securitization is the size of the credit support because it determines the economics of the transaction The estimation of the default rate and expected loss for an asset pool provides information that is needed to estimate the size of credit support that will be required to absorb the expected losses. Ultimately, the determination of the amount of credit support will be specified by the rating agencies given the target rating sought for each bond class by the securitizer. The credit enhancement decision; that is, the mix of the credit enhancement used in a transaction, is the same as the capital structure decision for a corporation.