While international capital flows are rising, the role of banks in the economy is changing and stock markets in OECD and eastern European countries play an increasing role for financing investment and innovation. Economic catching up of eastern Europe, European Monetary Union and problems of economic convergence are some of the issues discussed in this volume. Theoretical as well as empirical analyses of savings, private and public investment, and portfolio shifts are presented from a comparative perspective, covering Europe, Asia, Latin America and the US. Prudential supervision, banking issues and monetary integration are topics analyzed in theoretical and economic policy terms.