How do we resolve the too-big-to-fail problem

Abstract

The Vickers Commission in the United Kingdom has advocated ring-fencing of core banking activities; the Volcker Rule in the United States prohibits banks from engaging in certain kinds of investment activities. Neither will be easy to implement and neither is likely to be very effective. To deal with the risks posed by systemically important fi nancial institutions what is needed is a multi-pronged approach that addresses size, concentration and ownership structure and far more intrusive regulation than we have seen in the recent past. An important element in this approach must be the presence of a few large banks in the public sector.