[fre] L’introduction d’une monnaie unique et l’harmonisation de la réglementation en Europe ont considérablement réduit les distances, dans tous les sens du terme. Avec la réduction des coûts que cela entraîne, des forces centripètes ont été mises en branle et devraient pousser à...

This paper provides an overview of conceptual issues and recent research findings concerning the structure and the role of financial systems and an introduction into the new research area of comparative financial systems. The authors start by pointing out the importance of financial systems in...

Until about 25 years ago, almost all European countries had a so-called three pillar banking system comprising private banks, (public) savings banks and (mutual) cooperative banks. Since that time, several European countries have implemented far-reaching changes in their banking systems, which...

There have been lively political debates about savings banks as long as this type of financial institutions has existed. The focus of these debates have been two of the characteristic features of savings banks: They have always pursued financial as well as non-financial objectives, and until a...