This book is a product of my commitment to developing both theory and practice in political economy. I first became interested in economic and institutional change in the commercial banking industry when I took a seminar on financial insti- tions led by Robert Glauber in the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in the spring of 1995. In my experience, Bob is one of a handful of teachers who has the verve to challenge and inspire both esoteric and practical inquiry: the seminar grappled with practical business and policy problems in a way that posed a significant challenge to existing theories. In addition to dem- strating the need to better integrate theory and practice, it provided a perspective and an approach that I continue to find useful in research, consulting, and teaching. Conducting the research for this study has taught me many things about banking, regulation, and policy making, and I am grateful to a very large number of people for their assistance. Bob Glauber continues to be generous in discussing the ch- lenges of change in the financial services industry.

The historical response to bank crises has always been more regulation. A pattern emerges that some may find surprising: regulation often contributes to bank instability. It suppresses competition and effective response to market changes and encourages bankers to take on additional risk. This book offers a valuable history lesson for policy makers.

First Published in 1998. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

The Code of Federal Regulations is the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

Global competition, technological development, and changes in banking laws and regulations are transforming the role of commercial banks and the nature of the banking business within the U.S. financial system. The earlier editions of this work have been revised and expanded to incorporate discussions of these dramatic changes and their results. The discussions of the issues have been kept as current as possible, and a solid background has been supplied to provide perspective. Emphasis has been placed on the management of commercial banks through the formulation and implementation of sound and flexible policies.