In recent years, the delivery of financial services has changed consistent with technological advances that have occurred. On-line banking, on-line trading and brokerage services, and capital markets are available and utilized in varying degrees in the industrialized nations of the world. Beyond the availability of services on-line, E-Finance is redefining the cost and competitive structure of financial services. This convergence of technology and financial services provides opportunities for emerging markets to leapfrog in the development and delivery of financial services. This paper identifies issues arising from the spread of E-Finance including the readiness of telecommunications infrastructure, public policy and regulatory requirements, and financial sector development approaches. It hopes to stimulate dialogue on the role E-Finance can play in supporting the World Bank's overall mission.

"This volume presents two recent analyses, prompted by the recent East Asian crisis, of government responses to financial crises. It evaluates the tradeoffs involved in public policies for systemic financial and corporate sector restructuring. This book also draws on cross-country evidence to help determine whether specific crisis containment and resolution policies effect the fiscal costs of resolving a crisis. A comprehensive database, of 113 systemic banking crises that have occurred in 93 countries since the 1970s, is included. Also incorporated in this database is information on 50 borderline nonsystemic banking crises in 44 countries during that same period of time."