Although thousands of banks, securities firms, insurance companies, stock exchanges and other financial firms have engaged in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) over the past decade, the structure of financial services markets remains far from an equilibrium. Each year brings a new stream of M&As across geographic boundaries and product markets, as financial services firms continue to reposition in response to new technological, regulatory and competitive conditions. As the industry continues to shift and consolidate, future combinations will have important economic effects (for example, financial market efficiency, competition, credit supply, economic growth) as well as political implications (for example, home- vs. host-country regulation, protection of national champions).
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, University of Kansas School of Business and Journal of Financial Services Research (JFSR) held a research conference at which these and related issues were investigated. The conference was held on November 30 and December 1, 2007, at the FDIC's L. William Seidman Center in Arlington, Virginia.
If you have any questions about the conference, please contact N. Michelle Rose via e-mail or telephone at (202) 898-7204.
