An influential body of theoretical research and an emerging line of empirical work suggest that the operation of the formal financial system affects the degree to which economic opportunities are defined by talent and initiative rather than by parental wealth and social connections. This paper...

Recommended readings (Machine generated): Vol I: 1. Jeremy Greenwood and Boyan Jovanovic (1990), 'Financial Development, Growth, and the Distribution of Income', Journal of Political Economy, 98 (5), October, 1076-107 -- 2. Valerie R. Bencivenga and Bruce D. Smith (1991), 'Financial...

Combining two unique data sets, this paper explores the relationship between the relative importance of different financial institutions and their average size and firms' access to financial services. Specifically, the authors explore the relationship between the share in total financial assets...