Banks of the world

Today the banks are the pillars of economic development, with the banking titans of London and New York, the vast state financial empires of Washington and Moscow, and the tremendous resources they com mand operating all over the world.

This lively and comprehensive account traces the evolution of banking up to the present. The author delineates the main lines of development along which banking has progressed and describes its present complex structure, condens ing a vast amount of documentary material not easily available else where: considerable prominence is given to the international aspects of banking, drawing on the author's first-hand experience.

The evolution of banking mechan ism in fourteen countries is described in the context of the economic and social forces which have left their imprint on national development; this is followed by an analysis of the European Com mon Market from the point of view of the financier and monetary ex pert, and by a classification of the 475 oldest banks in the world.

Roger Orsingher has contributed an important addition to the litera ture on his subject, in which he combines experience with style. He has also provided his professional colleagues with a valuable reference work, containing numerous tables and lists.