Where the Bank can make a real contribution to regulatory arrangements is through its knowledge of, and day-to-day dealing in, financial markets and through its broad macro-economic responsibilities. Two examples should help to illustrate this.
In addition, our survey suggests that some low-credit-risk minority- and women-owned firms are less likely than low-risk white-owned and male-owned firms to receive financing; and if they are approved, it is for less than the amount sought.18 Second, there have been shifts in the composition of commercial bank lending to small businesses.