[...]This paper traces the evolution of Fedwire fromtwelve separate payment operations, linked only by aninterdistrict communications arrangement, to a more unifiedand efficient system. Our account highlights both thedifficulties the Federal Reserve encountered as it soughtto standardize and...

While systemic risk—the risk of wholesale failure of banksand other financial institutions—is generally consideredto be the primary reason for supervision and regulation of thebanking industry, almost all regulatory rules treat such risk inisolation. In particular, they do not account for...