The peer review of the methods of calculating risk-weighted assets now under way within the Basel Committee and at European level accordingly needs to be completed without delay. The entrepreneurial nature of financial intermediaries must not be questioned.
Government intervention limiting banks’ freedom to do business and market competition have generally entailed, including in Italy’s recent history, high intermediation costs and widespread distortions in the allocation of resources. The recent institution of the Credit Observatory could provide additional information on the financing of the economy.