After a review of factors such as technology and the related policy toward financial liberalization that has affected financial institutions worldwide, this paper focuses on changes in Continental Europe. We identify and review three driving forces: (a) European integration, (b) the factors that...

We present a methodology based on quarterly sectoral accounts to build a map of the euro area financial system. The map can be used to visualise existing cross-sectoral interconnections and exposures, to analyse how the main bilateral positions have evolved over time, and to understand how past...

The offerings of financial products to investors have evolved considerably over the last decades. This study was undertaken to understand the importance of financial products in Portugal for banks and private clients. Different financial products can provide to banks an important role on their...