We show that (electronic) designated market makers are not necessarily beneficial to the stock market during ash crashes. They actually consume liquidity when it is most needed, even if they are rewarded by the exchange to provide immediacy. This behavior exacerbates the transient price impact,...

We investigate the capability of an equity holding tax to stabilize a VaR regulated financial market. We show that a VaR constraint induces high volatility in a distressed financial market, the phenomenon is not observed in a market with risk averse unregulated traders. A tax on equity holding...

We investigate the financial crisis as a cut-off point in the evolution of financial systems in the European Union and in their convergence process. The crisis marked a turning point in the growth of banks and in the leveraging process of the economy. The evolution of financial systems in the...