Ambitions and limits of financial disintermediation in the Euro Area

This paper deals with the causes and consequences of the financial disintermediation that for some time has been taking place in Europe, particularly since the last financial crisis. Firstly, we present the evolution of bank and capital markets funding, which can be largely explained by the singular economic context we have experienced since 2008. Secondly, we analyse the objectives pursued by some national and European institutions, which campaign for more disintermediation against what they consider to be “overbanking”. Finally, we critically analyse the effects of disintermediation in terms of access to funding for (small) companies, as well as its impact on economy and financial stability.