Banks and Insolvent Corporate Customers: Experience of the Rescue Culture

This is a conference paper given at the 3rd Financial Services Industry Symposium, 2004.Over the last twenty years UK banks have reviewed and streamlined traditional credit assessment techniques for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises. In pursuit of margin and market share, today’s due diligence relies increasingly on centralised data and statistical “certainty” than on the more qualitative approach of the local bank manager. During this same period the nature of the banks’ “safety net”, the sanction of insolvency proceedings has changed too. The effect of this is not only to increase the potential for recovery, in respect of bad debts, but also to increase the moral hazard problem. However, increased risk is masked by creditor power in recovery situations. This paper draws on theoretical and empirical research from legal, ethical and economic viewpoints and suggests that a reappraisal of this aspect of the banker-customer relationship is essential to restore trust, prudence and long-term profitability

Reframing labour market mobility in global finance: Chinese elites in London’s financial district

In this paper, I use the case of elite Chinese financial mobility to London’s financial district to argue that comparatively neglected forms of elite financial migration from beyond the Global North provide important insights into the changing geographical form, and labour market practices within, leading international financial centres. By reporting on original empirical research, two main findings emerge. First, Chinese financial mobility to London has a distinctive geographical footprint in terms of both financial services activity and residential choices. Second, the rationale behind elite Chinese financial mobility to London cannot be fully explained by existing work on highly skilled migration and expatriation that emphasises the economic imperatives driving mobility. In response, I argue that work on elite mobility requires a fuller engagement with wider debates in economic geography that examine the interdependencies and inter-relationships between states and markets. These findings raise important questions surrounding the durability of Chinese finance in London, its relationship to global finance in London more generally, and wider understandings of elite financial labour markets

The business of death: a qualitative study of financial concerns of widowed older women

BACKGROUND: The feminisation of ageing and increasing number of widowed women in contemporary society has significant implications. Older women are at risk of poor health, social, and economic outcomes upon widowhood. The aim of the study was to describe women’s experiences in the period soon after their husbands’ death, including their financial issues and concerns, and the ways in which these experiences impacted on the transition to widowhood late in life. METHODS: This was a longitudinal study using serial in-depth semi-structured interviews with 21 community-dwelling women over the age of 65 in Australia. Verbatim transcripts underwent Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. RESULTS: Thematic analysis revealed: 1) administrative burden increases vulnerability; 2) gender roles impact on transitions; and 3) financial adjustments render housing insecurity and health risk. High administrative burden within the context of significant grief and mourning was a defining feature of the early bereavement period. Complicated protracted administrative processes, insensitive interactions, and reminders of loss contributed to distress, anxiety and feelings of demoralisation. Several women identified assumption of household financial management as the most difficult aspect of coping with their husband’s death. CONCLUSIONS: Older women may have unmet needs for assistance with administrative, financial, and legal issues immediately following spousal death and potentially for years afterward. Lack of familiarity and absence of instrumental support with financial and legal issues signal the need for policy reform, resources to improve financial literacy in women throughout the life course, increased advocacy, and consideration of different support and service models

Whistle while you work Key issues for implementing the Public Interest Disclosure Act and putting in place a whistleblowing policy

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:m02/44661 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

The EC banking directives of 1989 A compendium

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:q91/03133(EC) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Promoting financial inclusion The work of the banking industry; second annual report

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:1118.760(2nd) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Internal modelling and CAD II Qualifying and quantifying risk within a financial institution

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:m00/41122 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Off-balance-sheet instruments and other commitments and contingent liabilities

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:93/06407(Off) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo