With almost 6,300 commercial banks, significantly more than in any other country, the world of US banking is unique, fascinating, and always in flux. Two principal pieces of legislation have shaped the banking structure in this country: The McFadden Act of 1927, which prohibited banks from branching into other states, and The Glass-Steagall Act of 1933, which separated commercial and investment banking activities. The repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act in 1999 was one of the main contributing factors behind the global financial crisis of 2008. This measure resulted in the passage of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, which once again prohibited commercial banks from making certain types of speculative investments. The Changing Face of American Banking analyzes the impact of both these acts - as well as that of their subsequent repeal - in depth, examining the real effects of government regulations on the US commercial banking sector. Ray Chaudhuri pinpoints the evolving nature of US commercial banks and banking regulations and explores their impact on the economy. Instead of just focusing on banks and regulations, this work considers the correlations and causality between banking performance and economic growth and productivity. It also brings the banking literature up to date with the 2008-2009 financial crisis and its aftermath, including the passage of the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010 and its effect on American banking.

In the wake of the Asian financial crisis that erupted in 1997, an intense scrutiny of the principles and standards of the world's financial system was inevitable. This book presents the insight and practical proposals of 25 experts, including economists, lawyers, bankers, academics and officials from international financial institutions. The contributions offered here were originally presented at a series of conferences sponsored in 1999 and 2000 by the Asian Institute of International Financial Law of the University of Hong Kong in collaboration with leading law faculties from five continents. The issues confronted in this book include the following: reform of domestic securities regulation; investment insurance and risk management; the role of pension funds; accounting standards; financing real estate and construction projects; global competitiveness in the financial sector; responsibility of private lenders; effective anti-money laundering measures; protection of emerging market economies; corporate governance; and institutional investors.

With the growth in financial activity in and between the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China or Taiwan and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, an understanding of the development and status of financial law and regulation in the Chinese Economic Circle is increasingly important. This book provides an overview of the most significant areas of financial regulation in the Greater China Area, bringing together expert essays on banking, insurance, securities and general financial law in the PRC, banking and insurance in Taiwan, and financial law in Hong Kong. This work collects in a single volume, the significant history and development of financial law within the Greater China Area, providing an insight into the development and relationship of these three diverse but inter-related financial systems.

The global financial and economic crisis which started in 2008 has had devastating effects around the globe. It has caused a rethinking in different areas of law, and posed new challenges to regulators and private actors alike. One of the emerging issues is the apparent eclipse of boundaries between different legal disciplines: financial and corporate lawyers have to learn how public law instruments can complement their traditional governance tools; conversely, public lawyers have had to come to understand the specificities of the financial markets they intend to regulate. While commentary on financial regulation and the global financial crisis abounds, it tends to remain within disciplinary boundaries. This volume not only brings together scholarship from different areas of law (constitutional and administrative law, EU law, financial law and regulation), but also from a variety of backgrounds (the academy, practice, policy-making) and a number of different jurisdictions. The volume illustrates how interdisciplinary scholarship belongs at the centre of any discussion of the economic crisis, and indeed regulation theory more generally. This is a timely exploration of cutting-edge issues of financial regulation.

Grounding its analysis in the historical evolution of financial regulation, this book addresses a range of public policy issues that concern the design of financial regulation and its enforcement, and contributes several new ideas to the debate in this field. Financial systems have become more competitive across sectors of financial institutions and nations, and direct regulations have been removed in pursuit of efficiency. However, as the risk of institutional failures has increased, de-regulation has had to be followed by re-regulation. In which form should this happen? This book answers this question. First revisiting the issue of "why to regulate", Padoa-Schioppa argues that the need to continue to regulate banks in a special way follows from their key role as liquidity providers. At the same time, his argument recognizes the need for close interplay in the regulation of different financial sectors. The book goes on to discuss "how" regulation should be carried out in the modern environment. It should be market-friendly, but the balance between official intervention and market discipline is difficult to get right. Moreover, in an increasingly international context, financial regulation has to be evenly applied across countries to avoid regulatory arbitrage. The final part of the book turns to issues specifically connected with developments in the European Union. One major issue is the maintenance of financial stability in the Euro area where the financial system is becoming especially integrated. Another major issue is the appropriate role of central banks. As the literature and practice are still very much under development, Padoa-Schioppa analyses the general aspects of the financial stability function of central banks - particularly in relation to the monetary policy and supervision functions - as well as the tools available for the Eurosystem.

This volume is a collection of articles based upon presentations given on November 23, 2015 at a conference hosted by the Institute for Law and Finance entitled "Towards a New Age of Responsibility in Banking and Finance: Getting the Culture and the Ethics Right" which brought together leaders from the public and private sectors to discuss the importance of culture and ethics in restoring public trust in financial institutions.

Law relating to trade in financial services is examined here, with a particular focus on the rules contained in Chapter 14 of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). After a detailed analysis of the relevant provisions and their effect on financial institutions in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, the author examines the impact of the NAFTA rules on the legal position of banks operating in countries outside NAFTA, particularly in the context of the WTO financial services provisions. The book concludes with a chapter on the effects of a potential NAFTA expansion. The book aims to contribute to the development of a new legal and regulatory framework distinct from those of trade and financial services law, and offers an insight into how trade in financial services within a regional trade agreement develops its own legal dynamic.

Like it or not, money launderers are major players in the world's economy. Their strategies constrain national economic policies and undermine financial institutions. With the advent of secure transfer technologies, and with the help of modern financial theories of derivatives and leverage, money laundering has become a significant structural component in contemporary geopolitics. This analysis focuses on control: how the problem is handled by legislation and regulatory and law enforcement agencies (particularly in the US and the EU), what the daunting challenges are that must be faced, what more can be attempted. In the course of developing in-depth consideration of the numerous intertwining issues that arise, the author uncovers a wealth of precise detail about what we know and what we can reasonably surmise about patterns of money laundering activity. Relevant matters covered include: the internal measuring and monitoring systems used by financial institutions; methodologies in use or in development to measure the extent of money laundering; the role of money laundering in the "informal economy"; the global rise of new criminal organizations; conflicts of criminal legislation and civil law; the relation of money laundering to capital flight; degrees of moral ambiguity and appropriately tailored control strategies; the role of offshore financial centres (OFCs); the use of derivatives in the money laundering process; obstacles to the monitoring of wire transfer activity in real time; and the "ethical indeterminacy" of white-collar crime. As a cross-disciplinary analysis of money laundering - fully recognizing the activity's economic, political, and juridical dimensions - this book identifies an array of criteria that may be used to develop and implement effective control strategies.

Derivative instruments are the contracts used in the global market for future commodities. The value of these contracts exceeds two trillion US dollars per day, making them the world's biggest market. Very little of substance has been published about this critically important business and its implications for the future direction of the world economy. This work is a collection of papers presented at the International Conference on Derivative Instruments at London University's Institute of Advanced Legal Studies in October 1993. It contains the current views of the world's leading regulators, most successful traders and top legal, economic and scientific experts in this rapidly growing market. The size and continued growth of this sector of the financial services business means that an increasing number of lawyers, government and market regulators, and people active in the financial services industry need to have a solid understanding of trading in derivative instruments. This volume contains the explanations of some knowledgeable experts and should be a useful primary source for newcomers to begin to learn about derivative instruments and for experienced practitioners to expand their understanding.

Until recent years, formal bank insolvency proceedings were rare occurrences, with governments more often than not coming to the rescue of failing banks. As a result, few studies relating to bank failure have paid much attention to the regulatory framework for failing banks and the conduct of formal bank insolvency proceedings. However, in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis, more attention has been focused on issues of bank insolvency. Structural reforms in the banking sector of various Asian countries, in particular the implementation of effective exit rules to expel insolvent and non-viable banks from the market, have been considered of primary importance to restoring confidence in the troubled banking sector. In addition, the ability of governments within the European Union to rescue insolvent banks has been significantly limited by strict rules on competition, suggesting that failing banks will become increasingly subject to insolvency proceedings. This text compares the legal framework for dealing with insolvent banks in Western Europe, the United States and Canada, identifying the distinctive features of each regime and discussing the main issues and choices in dealing with failing banks. It also examines the implications of a cross-border bank insolvency, and considers different approaches to the problems it raises, including the supranational approach of the proposed European Directive on the Reorganization and Winding-up of Credit Institutions. This work should be of value to lawmakers, to consultants and scholars engaged in technical assistance work, and to those who advise the legislators and officials involved in devising a legal framework for bank insolvency. It should also be of interest to practitioners and in-house counsel working in the field of banking and corporate law.

Italian Banking and Financial Law provides a thorough overview of the banking sector in Italy, offering historical perspectives, insight into current developments and suggestions for future evolution.

Departing from an International Relations perspective, this book inquires how industry self-regulation affects the role of international law in governing global banks. It provides case studies of the Wolfsberg Principles and the Equator Principles.

In this era of late-modern capitalism the forces of internationalization and technological innovation are transforming both global and national economies. A key feature of these transformation processes is the increasing strategic economic, political and social importance of the financial services sector to nation states and trading blocs. The increasing size and volatility of the world's financial markets underline the importance of better understanding: how financial markets work; how they should be regulated; and the significance of the problem of white collar crime in the financial services sector. This text addresses these key questions through a synthesis of legal, historical and sociological approaches in its critique of financial services regulation. This strategy integrates perspectives based in structuration theory, censure theory, modernity theory and the literature on legitimacy in its analysis of the actors, structures and processes that construct regulation and deviancy in the financial services sector. Based on a detailed analysis of regulation in the UK, the book examines the global and national forces and processes which interact to produce systems of financial services regulation. The UK regulatory system is contrasted with those of other jurisdictions, in particular the US, demonstrating the role of national and cultural factors in shaping such systems. This work should be of specific interest to financial services professionals, corporate lawyers, regulators and academics.

This volume covers the development of bank supervisory standards for an emerging Chinese Economic Circle (CEC) in which the People's Republic of China, Taiwan and Hong Kong form an informal interdependent relationship through their significant and increasing inter-investment and inter-trade activities. The PRC, Taiwan and Hong Kong have all embarked on definitive plans to liberalize the regulation of their respective banking industries and to develop Shanghai, Taipei and Hong Kong into major regional financial centres. The author suggests that in order to do this successfully, it is necessary that the "core value" of prudential supervision, which is based on banking standards from the UK, USA, EU and the Basle Committee, is fully integrated into Chinese banking law and practice. The author concludes that banking supervision in the CEC should be conferred with a wide degree of discretionary power to take the necessary measures to preserve this "core value" of prudential supervision. The book should be of prime interest to academics and practitioners in the field of banking law, particularly those with a special interest in the Asia-Pacific region.

This incisive book is an accessible guide to the laws and policies relating to economic and monetary union (EMU). Providing a rich, multidisciplinary analysis, it combines historical, legal and economic perspectives to offer a detailed understanding of how EMU has developed since its inception and how it works in practice today. Alberto Saravalle begins with an overview of the history of EMU, alongside a theoretical analysis of its regulatory framework and development. He then discusses the events of the European sovereign debt crisis, examining the measures taken by EU institutions such as the European Central Bank, as well as the responses of the Member States and the impact of economic policies they adopted as a result. Finally, he analyses recent proposed reforms to EMU and its possible future evolution, including a discussion of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on Member States' willingness to participate in further reform and integration. This book will be a valuable reference for those teaching and studying advanced courses on EU law, as well as courses that cover the economic history of EU integration. It will also be useful to practitioners, government officials and policy-makers wishing to familiarise themselves with the complex functioning of EMU.

Contains 13 national reports and the general report on Money Laundering and Banking Secrecy. The reports were written for the XIVth Congress of the International Academy of Comparative Law which was held in 1994 in Athens, Greece. As narcotics trafficking exploded in the 1980s, it was realized that money laundering had become a threat to the entire integrity of the financial system. The international trend to regard money laundering as a serious threat to the stability of democracy and the rule of law found expression in the adoption of the 1988 United Nations Drugs Convention. Gradually, the international community diverged from its traditional, narrow approach whereby only the laundering of drug proceeds was considered a threat. In order to combat money laundering efficiently, it soon became clear that criminal law was not sufficient and that it was necessary for banks and other financial institutions to co-operate with law enforcement agencies. The banking community is now obliged to report suspicious transactions, which they often regard as going beyond their role as bankers. The issue of bank secrecy has played an important role in the discussion between law enforcement agencies and the banking community.

This book examines a key aspect of the post-financial crisis reform package in the EU and UK-the ratcheting up of internal control in banks and financial institutions. The legal framework for internal controls is an important part of prudential regulation, and internal control also constitutes a form of internal gate-keeping for financial firms so that compliance with laws and regulations can be secured. This book argues that the legal framework for internal control, which is a form of meta-regulation, is susceptible to weaknesses, and such weaknesses are critically examined by adopting an interdisciplinary approach. The book discusses whether post-crisis reforms adequately address the weaknesses in regulating internal control and proposes an alternative strategy to enhance the 'governance' effectiveness of internal control.

In a world of fading borders, the Internet has become a regular method of buying and selling. However, technological and legal means of guaranteeing secure electronic transactions lag behind the increasing flexibility required by a flourishing "virtual" economy. Furthermore, as virtual money circulates it is susceptible to interception, processing and channeling by any number of corporate interests and public authorities. The questions arise: who is going to control what and why? There are, as yet, no firm answers. This book sets the stage and takes the necessary first steps towards developing a reliable legal regime for virtual money. Its purpose is: to analyze the legal issues raised by internet payment systems, and to explain clearly the solutions already adopted; and to discuss policy issues, with available hypotheses, raised by the convergence of financial services and information technology, and by the advent of virtual money. The authors provide a rigorous assessment of the appropriateness of the relevant existing legal instruments that regulate Internet payment systems, and focus in particular upon the rapidly increasing use of "electronic cash" - on smart cards or in the form of dematerialized electronic tokens - which behaves like cash, in that it can circulate between parties without the intermediation of a financial institution. The text aims to help lawyers, policymakers and business people successfully negotiate the radical transformation under way in all sectors of business and industry.

Bank failures, crises, global banking, megamergers, changes in technology--the effect of these world events is to weaken existing methods of regulating bank safety and soundness, and even to make some methods ineffective. Federal regulators are evaluating new ways to solve them. Dr. Gup and his panel of academics and regulatory professionals explore these problems and the difficulties in implementing solutions. They point out that global banking, megamergers, and changes in technology are drastically altering the way financial services are delivered. They also argue that existing methods of bank regulation, formulated in the United States and elsewhere as early as the 19th century, are not able to cope with these changes. The search now underway for new methods that are global in scope. Inevitably, they will involve cross-border supervision and international cooperation.

Covering a wide range of topics, from the rationale of banking regulation to optimal banking regulation in the new world environments, this book examines the innovative tools needed to cope with these problems. Greater reliance on market discipline; the use of internal controls based on statistical models, such as Value-at-Risk; and subordinated debt are discussed. This timely, probing analysis of one of the hottest topics in bank regulation today, is an important resource for professionals and their academic colleagues in the fields of banking, finance, investment, and world trade.

The Research Handbook on Central Banking focuses on global central banks as institutions and not abstractions, providing historical and practical detail about how central banks work and the challenges they face. This Research Handbook offers the most interdisciplinary treatment of global central banks published to date by addressing key questions regarding where they come from, how they have changed, and the challenges they face during uncertain times. Divided into two parts, the Research Handbook firstly takes readers on a global tour, covering central banks in the US, Latin America, Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan, China, Africa, and more. In the second part, authors delve into themes of broad application, including transparency, independence, unconventional monetary policy, payment systems, and crisis response. The interdisciplinary mix of contributors include some of the most prominent names in central banking as well as a new generation of scholars who are shaping the conversation about central banks and their role in global politics, economics, and society at large. Interdisciplinary and innovative, this Research Handbook will prove essential reading for scholars focusing on central banks, financial regulation, global governance, and related areas, as well as for central bankers and employees at central banks. Contributors include: C. Adam, K. Alexander, A. Berg, R. Bhala, D. Bholat, C. Borio, F. Capie, P. Conti-Brown, R. Darbyshire, F. Decker, B. Geva, C. Goodhart, A.G. Haldane, L.I. Jacome, H. James, J. Johnson, R.B. Kahn, H. Kanda, C. Kaufmann, R.M. Lastra, X. Liu, S. McCracken, E.E. Meade, S.T. Omarova, R. Portillo, M. Raskin, A.L. Riso, R. Smits, P. Tucker, F. Unsal, R.H. Weber, G. Wood, T. Yamanaka, D. Yermack, A. Zabai, Z. Zhou, C. Zilioli

This short monograph examines the tense relationship between central bank independence and democratic legitimation, which has changed as the European Central Bank (ECB) has been entrusted with new tasks and faced unprecedented challenges. The financial and sovereign debt crisis, in particular, has affected the ECB's position within the Economic and Monetary Union without substantial changes in the Union's legal framework. However, the evolution of an institution primarily obligated to maintain price stability into an actor involved in sustaining financial stability, performing banking supervision and supporting economic policy raises the question of whether the high level of autonomy granted to the ECB is justified with regard to the principle of democracy that demands adequate accountability and control. This book identifies requirements for the democratic legitimation of central bank action in relation to specific tasks. Further, it analyses other scales of independence encountered in EU law in order to allow readers to gain a better conceptual understanding of central bank independence.

The trend towards internationalization, especially in the trade and finance sectors, brings with it an urgent need to know about financial transactions and how they affect currencies. Rapid technological developments are having profound effects on financial transactions, the law and the commercial transactions sustained by that law. The progress in the creation of a single currency for use within the European Community have engendered major controversies over acceptable forms of financial transactions. This work presents the national reports and the general report of the panel on financial transactions which convened at the Athens Conference on Comparative Law, 1994. It reviews the interrelationship between modern techniques for financial transactions and currencies, and the general report ties them all together, as well as distinguishing some common themes in dealing with modern financial transactions.

This work conducts a critical examination of Chinese foreign banking law in the context of the international convergence of supervisory standards and practices. If China is to develop a modern and viable banking sector, it needs to put in place a suitable legal infrastructure which is consistent with emerging international supervisory standards, WTO requirements and aspirations for financial sector liberalization. The author argues that the current foreign banking laws are fundamentally out of line with international standards and practices in a number of respects and that legislators and supervisors do not at present appreciate or cultivate commonly accepted supervisory values. The author therefore proposes a set of reforms that would at the same time create a legal environment for competitive equality between foreign banks and protect the safety and soundness of the Chinese banking system. The issues considered include the licensing process for the entry of foreign banks into the Chinese market, the ongoing regulation of foreign banks and foreign bank crisis management or bank failure resolution. The author offers a proposed framework of Chinese foreign banking law which should be of great benefit to existing and prospective foreign banks in China.

The globalization of the securities markets, rapid technological advancement, the perpetration of widespread cross-border fraud and the proliferation of emerging capital markets have made international financial law an increasingly important area of regulation, practice and research. Its significance will continue to grow in the 21st century, making the advent of a book focusing on developments in international securities law extremely timely. Key topics covered in this book include disclosure requirements, insider trading regulation, global offerings, transnational regulatory co-operation, the role of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), memoranda of understanding and emerging capital markets. Discussion of these issues is supported by examination of the law and policy in numerous countries, including developed and emerging capital markets. The author makes detailed analysis of applicable legal principles with regard to a wide range of topics, discusses proposed standards for law reform and makes recommendations to enhance international cooperation.