March 24, 2014

What is the use of a perfect banking union among imperfect banks?

Sir, on March 24 you refer to “A highly imperfect banking union”, but leave out what is the most important fact, namely that this union is among imperfect banks. That Eurozone banks and sovereigns remain tightly embraced”, as you subtitle it, has less to do with a flawed union and much more to do with fact that regulators allow banks to lend to the European sovereigns holding much less capital than when lending to other European unrated borrowers.

And such regulations as you should understand, makes it impossible for banks to allocate bank credit efficiently.