In today's globalized economy, banking is of international importance. This book interrogates important issues, including reform in China, electronic money and loan pricing. Highlighting key policy and research, it provides insight into contemporary global banking trends and assesses the impact...

We analyze the relation between capital structure, ownership structure, and corporate value for a sample of 1,216 firms from 15 European countries. Our results stress two different conflicts of interest and show the differential role played by the mechanisms of corporate control depending on the...

This paper analyzes the relationship between ownership structure (shareholders' stake and identity) and corporate risk taking for a sample of companies from 21 OECD countries for the period 2000-2008. Our main contribution is considering simultaneously the effect of growth opportunities and the...

In this paper we propose an integrated model of capital structure to study the partial adjustment process to the optimal long term debt ratio. In our analysis we consider the characteristics of the institutional environment as a factor that influences such adjustment. We use a sample of quoted...

Using and international sample of commercial banks over the period 1996-2006, our study analyzes if bank's specific factors and the legal environment in which they operate affect the board's composition. We consider the dual role of the board as both monitor and advisor. Results show that there...