This article looks at the changes in the insurance market which are being forced by new economy pressures. The author considers the squeeze created by consolidation in the financial services market and by globalisation and how companies have responded by creating asset management products and...

The field of financial services is one of the fastest changing sectors of the economy. The author argues that this and the changing motivation of people working in the financial services sector mean that a new approach is required to ensure that change both can be managed and can benefit the...

Basel II will have a huge impact on the risk management of banks across Europe. The author assesses the findings of a survey from PricewaterhouseCoopers of what the likely results will be on the banking industry.

There are two views of the European Union which appear at initial reading to be different from each other. The first is a vision of a free‐trading group, a Europe of nations, and the second is a vision of a European nation‐state. In the calculations of gains and losses, the former is often...

Explores the rapidly changing world of electronic purse transactions and presents a case study of the development strategy employed by Europay International. Considers the impending convergence of European standards and the role of the newly formed CEPSCo Corporation charged with managing the...

Argues that the predicted explosion in electronic commerce will be facilitated by low value transactions. Highlights the need for transaction costs to be equally low for this to take place. Two distinct types of electronic cash schemes are evaluated; cleared electronic cash payments schemes such...

The international smart card market is discussed from the case study perspective of the smart card application Proton World. Outlines the foundation, alliance of shareholders and development of Proton World and summarises the initial success with five national roll‐out Proton‐based smart...

Marketing has traditionally deployed the rhetoric of consumer sovereignty and the efficiency of market relations to legitimize its role as an academic discipline and as a management practice. Draws on theoretical reflections and empirical field work in financial services to question elements of...