Contents

pp vii-ix

List of figures

pp x-xi

List of tables

pp xii-xiv

Preface

pp xv-xvi

Acknowledgements

pp xvii-xvii

Notes on contributors

pp xviii-xxii

Introduction

pp 1-12

PART I - HOUSEHOLDS AND FIRMS

pp 13-14

1 - Marketable and non-marketable assets in households' portfolios: a cross-country comparison

pp 15-35

2 - Credit, money and consumption: time-series evidence for Italy

pp 36-51

Discussion

pp 52-56

3 - Empirical determinants of corporate debt decisions: some evidence for Italy

pp 57-82

Discussion

pp 82-86

PART II - FINANCIAL MARKETS

pp 87-88

4 - Financial liberalisation and exchange rate volatility

pp 89-108

5 - Capital mobility, vehicle currencies and exchange rate asymmetries in the EMS

pp 109-143

Discussion

pp 143-151

6 - Shifting gears: an economic evaluation of the reform of the Paris Bourse

pp 152-177

7 - Front-running and stock market liquidity

pp 178-199

8 - Auction markets, dealership markets and execution risk

pp 200-212

Discussion

pp 212-217

9 - The impact of a new futures contract on risk premia in the term structure: an APT analysis for French government bonds

pp 218-248

PART III - BANKS

pp 249-250

10 - The role of banks as investors in securities: theoretical and empirical features in an international perspective

pp 251-276

11 - Loan sales and balance sheet assets

pp 277-298

Discussion

pp 299-300

12 - A comparative analysis of the liabilities structure in seven banking systems

pp 301-336

13 - Deposit insurance: implications from financial intermediation theory

pp 337-364

Discussion

pp 364-368