"Under the traditional "competition-fragility" view, more bank competition erodes market power, decreases profit … margins, and results in reduced franchise value that encourages bank risk taking. Under the alternative "competition …-stability" view, more market power in the loan market may result in greater bank risk as the higher interest rates charged to loan …

"The relationships among competition in the financial sector, access of firms to external financing, and associated … economic growth are ambiguous in theory. Moreover, measuring competition in the financial sector can be complex. In this paper … Claessens and Laeven first estimate for 16 countries a measure of banking system competition based on industrial organization …

"This paper discusses some of the key characteristics of the U.S. subprime mortgage boom and bust, contrasts them with … characteristics of emerging mortgage markets, and makes recommendations for emerging market policy makers. The crisis has raised … questions in the minds of many as to the wisdom of extending mortgage lending to low and moderate income households. It is …

facilitate the development of mortgage-related securities. Despite such a strong appeal, there are significant barriers to the … development of mortgage securities in emerging markets. Their success is dependent on many factors, starting with a strong legal … and regulatory framework and liberalized financial sector, and including a developed primary mortgage market. The …