Financial intermediation is currently a subject of active academic research on both sides of the Atlantic. European financial integration raises major policy issues about the risks of banking competition and the appropriate regulation of banks and other financial intermediaries. The choice of Anglo-American vis-à -vis Continental European forms of financial markets is also central to Eastern Europe's transformation. This volume contains theoretical papers at the forefront of academic research that shed light on banking and security markets and banking competition.

Zusammenfassung
This volume reviews state-of-the-art theories of banking and finance, and assesses their implications for policy-making. It focuses in particular on Eastern and Western Europe, and compares Anglo-American and Continental European forms of financial markets.

Inhalt

Introduction Colin Mayer and Xavier Vives; 2. Efficient governance structure: implications for banking Mathias Dewatripont and Jean Tirole; 3. Bank loan maturity and priority when borrowers can refinance Douglas Diamond; 4. Stock markets and resource allocation Franklin Allen; 5. Informational capacity and financial collapse Douglas Gale; 6. Financial intermediation and economic development Robert G. King and Ross Levine; 7. Creditor passivity and bankruptcy: implications for economic reform Janet Mitchell; 8. Enterprise debt and economic transformation: restructuring in Central and Eastern Europe David Begg and Richard Portes; 9. Bank regulation reputation and rents: theory and political implications Arnoud W. Boot and Stuart Greenbaum; 10. Relationship banking, deposit insurance and bank portfolio choice David Besanko and Anjan V. Thakor; 11. Competition and bank performance: a theoretical perspective Michael Riordan.