This paper addresses a very European issue, the consolidation of securities trading and settlement infrastructures. In a two-country model, we analyze welfare implications of different types of consolidation. We find that horizontal integration of settlement systems is better than vertical...

This paper aims to contribute to the ongoing discussion on horizontal vs. vertical integration as further development path in the financial security service industry, consisting of trading, clearing and settlement. Using a stylized model of the industry we investigate the incentives to...