Monetary policies and international standards and norms on banking regulations have, once again, come to the forefront of the policy discussion in developed nations due to the recent crisis in the world's financial markets. This discussion is far from new, nor does it apply exclusively to the world's most advanced economies. A stable monetary policy and a sound and well-enforced regulatory regime can help developing nations channel financial resources more efficiently into investments. For open economies it can also act as a buffer, an important stability factor in today's shaky market environment.
This book assesses the challenges facing monetary policies and the independence of central banks. It explores banking systems and examines the impact of monetary policy and banking sector regulations on bank efficiency and economic growth in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean, at the same time investigating the level of convergence of regulatory practices and efficiency to EU Mediterranean standards.

Financial centres are constantly evolving to accommodate an increasingly integrated global economy and an equally challenging environment post financial crisis. They are home to a range of financial services and serve as intermediaries between mostly non-resident clients and international and local financial institutions, large or small. Financial centres have grown over recent decades as a direct result of the increasing importance of financial markets across the globe. Using analysis from a representative sample of financial centres in Europe and elsewhere, face-to-face surveys pre and post crisis and systematic comparisons, "Financial Centres in Europe" provides a comprehensive assessment of the extent to which increased international cooperation in regulation and taxation could allow financial centres to better respond to risks and opportunities facing them in the future. At the same time, it identifies challenges of a geopolitical and macroeconomic nature facing financial centres in the coming years.

Monetary Policy, central banking, and international norms and regulations; a discussion far from new, nor applying exclusively to the world's most advanced economies. A sound monetary policy and a well-enforced regulatory regime is provided, in explanation of developing nations to channel financial resources more efficiently into investments.

Assesses to what extent increased international cooperation could help selected financial centres in Europe respond to the future risks and opportunities facing them. The book identifies challenges that the jurisdictions face in coming years by means of representative samples and systematic comparisons of financial centres.