Proposals for reform of the financial structure and regulation in the United States

Abstract

On December 22, 1971, the Commission on Financial Structure and Regulation in the U.S. submitted its report on the structure, operation and regulation of the private financial system. The Commission’s recommendations are intended to make financial markets more competitive and to improve the ability of financial institutions to adapt to economic and technological change. While the present regulatory regime has had a long history and its consequences are reasonably familiar, the proposals for more competition would move the financial system in onto less familiar terrain. The present analysis explores the nature of the Commission’s proposals and considers some of the consequences and implications of this emphasis on more competition in financial markets.

JEL: G10, G18, G20, G28