Insurance intermediaries have a key role in the efficient functioning of insurance markets, and minimising information asymmetries and risk of adverse selection is an important consideration. Intermediaries can analyse the needs of insurance consumers, and advise on appropriate solutions and...

The OECD Competition Committee debated retail banking in October 2006. This document includes an executive summary and the documents from the meeting: an analytical note by the OECD and written submissions from Brazil, Chinese Taipei, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the European Commission, France,...

Trends in bank profitability and factors affecting it are major indicators of changes in the state of health of national banking systems. OECD statistics published annually under the title Bank Profitability -- Financial Statements of Banks, provide a unique tool for analysing developments in...

This publication complements Bank Profitability: Financial Statements of Banks. The notes included in this volume were prepared to facilitate the comprehension and the interpretation of the statistics and to provide a brief description of the activities of banks in each country.

Achieving Financial Stability in Asia sets out to identify the elements which could restore confidence to the countries of the region and stabilise financial flows on a global basis. Thus, measures must be taken which include improving public and corporate governance, strengthening democracy and...