CARLO GOLA works in the Banking and Financial Supervision of the Bank of Italy, Italy. He received a degree in Economics from University of Modena, Italy, and a Master of Philosopy (M.Ph.) in Economics from the University of Oxford, UK. He worked at Centro Studi Economici e Finanziari (IPSOA), at the Istituto per la Ricerca Sociale (IRS) and in research projects financed by the Consiglio Nazionale per le Ricerche (CNR). He has been appointed as Senior Advisor to the Executive Director of International Monetary Fund (IMF). He is author of several articles and working papers in applied economics and banking.

ALESSANDRO ROSELLI spent his whole career at the central Bank of Italy, lastly as chief representative for the United Kingdom. He gained a degree in Law, Rome University, Italy. He has been A.C. Jemolo Fellow at Nuffield College, University of Oxford and is currently visiting fellow at the Cass Business School in London. Among his books: 'La finanza americana' (Laterza, 1995), 'Il governatore Azzolini' (Laterza 2000), 'Italy and Albania, Financial Relations in the Fascist Period' (I.B. Tauris), 2006).

The book is a comprehensive analysis of the UK banking system and its regulation in a globally integrated environment

List of Tables List of Figures Acknowledgements Preface PART ONE: BANKING AND FINANCIAL MARKETS The Structure of the Banking System Between the 1960s and 1980s The UK's Financial Structure and Economic Sectors The Development of the Supplementary Retirement Provision and the Pension Crisis The Configuration of the Banking System in the Last Fifteen Years The Stability of the British Banking Sector Markets and Market Infrastructures: Institutional and Prudential Aspects The Sub-prime Mortgage Market Crisis and its Effects on the UK Banking Sector PART TWO: THE LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK The New Regulatory Framework: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) The Combined Code of Corporate Governance The Competition Act (1998) and Related Regulatory Frameworks Conclusions Notes References Index List of Tables List of Figures Acknowledgements Preface