After the “big chill” brought on by the global crisis, the basic assumption – the importance of finance for growth – has not been eroded, but there have been increasing qualifications and some rethinkings, for example on the recognition of an important role for intermediation, especially in getting credit to SMEs.
13 In Italy, as we have seen, the share of sources of funding other than bank credit is particularly small and should certainly be encouraged to grow. Our traditional banking activities can find new life, however, in a virtuous rediscovery of the mission to get to know firms, in particular the smallest ones.