regulated sectors of most modern economies. This applies to
both banking and insurance. Traditional motives and justifications
for regulation in these two industries overlap to some extent, but
differ also in many ways. Financial markets have undergone extraordinary growth and
structural change in recent decades, due to a variety of
developments (worldwide integration of capital markets,
revolution in information technology, shifting attitudes towards
competition and protection in the financial services area). Along
with this, existing approaches to regulation have been
increasingly questioned and regulatory frameworks modified in a
multitude of ways, a process very much still going on