This paper finds a strong empirical link between domestic banking sector competitiveness and de facto international integration. De-facto international integration is measured through a new index of financial integration, which measures, for deviations from covered interest parity, the size of...

Chapter I: Introduction -- Chapter II - The Manila Trade -- Chapter III - The Capital Markets of the Manila Trade -- Chapter IV - The Business Model of the one-Galleon System -- Chapter V – An Alternative model of Trade Finance -- Chapter VI – The Political Economy of the Manila trade --...