This paper analyzes the consequences of alternative financial structures for financial efficiency and stability. The focus is on the organizational structure of banks. Alternative bank structures range from "narrow banks" to broad "universal banks". Each banking structure is assessed in its...

The basic worldwide financial safety net architecture provides for a system of similar institutions: a lender of last resort, deposit insurance, and prudential regulation. In countries whose banking systems suffer seriously from negative capital positions and overbanking, such as in some Latin...

About the authors -- Preface -- Learning tools walkthrough -- Money and the financial system -- An introduction to money and the financial system -- Money and the payments system -- Interest rates, financial instruments, and financial markets -- Future value, present value, and interest rates --...

The financial system -- An overview of financial markets and institutions -- The federal reserve and its powers -- The fed and interest rates -- Bond prices and interest rate risk -- The structure of interest rates -- Financial markets -- Money markets -- Bond markets -- Mortgage markets --...