Using aggregate data from national accounts, we study whether strengthening and harmonizing securities regulation across the European Union increases household equity ownership. We find a significant increase in the proportion of liquid assets invested in equity, both when a household's own...

Consumers have substantial debts. Examples concern mortgages but also debts for products such as clothing and books. Facing difficulties when dealing with interest rates and percentages computations is one of the reasons for those debts. Campaigns like “Borrowing money costs money” should...