Reviews sectoral trends in output, employment and technology change in the financial sector since the 1960s, and analyses the experience of three banks and two insurance companies.

Studies the services provided by Islamic banks and considers measures to facilitate their role in the financing of small and medium enterprises in Africa.

Based on fieldwork undertaken during September 2004 in Bamako and in the Pays Dogon, and further financial and statistical data obtained in 2005, presents the cases of two financial institutions, Nyèsigiso and Caisses Villageoises d’Epargne et de Crédit Autogérées des Pays Dogon (CVECAs).

Reviews the literature on the prevalence, causes and consequences of violence and stress in the financial services sector and outlines strategies for the prevention and management of the problem.

Bankers suffer a risk of non repayment of their credits to firms. This risk can be reduced during the two phases of the credit : at the time of the credit granting by a risk of failure analysis and the design of incentive contracts, and during its life, by an active monitoring of the credit.

The post-crisis and regulatory changes face banks with a new framework, replacing financial performance at the heart of their model. With the exception of risks associated with proprietary financial transactions, effects of the structure of income on the profitability and the stability of...