​This paper discusses the effects of small banks on economic growth. We first theoretically show that small banks operating at a regional level can spur local economic growth. As compared with big interregional banks, small regional banks are more effective in promoting local economic growth,...

Spitzenpolitiker deutscher Volksparteien propagieren öffentlich die Förderung nationaler Champions im Bankwesen. Auch andere Institutionen fordern eine Konsolidierung des Bankwesens und verweisen dabei auf die schwache Rentabilität und die geringe Konzentration deutscher Banken. Wir...

The privatization of the Italian savings banks is often described as a success story. Proponents of privatization argue that a similar reform could cure the current problems in the German banking sector. In this paper, we ask whether the Italian experience can really serve as a role model for...