A main public policy concern regarding the massive consolidation of the banking industry between 1984 and 2003 is the consolidation's potential effect on competition in local banking markets. Examining this period for the Twelfth Federal Reserve District, I find, on the whole, moderate increases...

The location of alternative financial services in the district shows that they serve a distinct market

In his first column, President Santomero talks about "New Beginnings" by introducing himself to the Business Review audience and by listing some of the challenges facing the Philadelphia metropolitan area and some options for dealing with them

·An in-depth look at the growth and decline of Atlantic City and the conditions in the city since casino gambling was legalized in 1978 as a "unique tool of urban redevelopment." The report expands on a case study of several of Atlantic City's census tracks with high levels of poverty. The case...