During the past two decades 130 of the 182 IMF member countries have experienced serious problems in their banking sectors or an outright banking crisis. Among the stylized facts about these crises are their often systemic nature, a pronounced boom-bust cyde and substantial financial involvement...

The volume includes theoretical articles on banks' liability restrictions, on the possible causes of the banking crisis and economic-policy recommendations on banking regulation by Hans-Werner Sinn in the past three decades.

Overview -- Issues and challenges of international monetary reform -- East Asia perception of the global safety net, IMF -- Use of national currencies for trade settlement in East Asia : a proposal -- Shaping the future of the IMS : regionalization of selected Asian currencies -- Conclusion