Financial Systems, Efficiency and Stimulation of Sustainable Growth (FINESS) – International Policy Conference in Brussels 10-11 May 2010 Workshop

The main purpose of FINESS is to get a clear understanding of the implications of ongoing financial market integration in Europe on economic growth, employment and competitiveness, to identify likely future paths of the development and to draw policy relevant conclusions. The project embraces wide range of aspects of financial market analyses through 7 work packages, such as: the advances in financial market integration, the banking systems and the performance of firms, private equity and venture capital, financial systems and household portfolio decisions, financial market integration in the new member states, the gender and financial markets, and the financial market integration and policy efficiency as well. ICEG European Center has prepared and delivered two working papers on the financial market integration in the new member states. The first is dealing with the bank competition and firm growth in the enlarged European Union, the second considers foreign currency borrowing in a Hungarian perspective. The project is ended by an International Policy Conference which took place at 10-11. May 2010 in Brussels. The major policy conclusions were reviewed and discussed among the participants of the consortium, discussants and the policy stakeholders.