This paper discusses the impact of the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in the financial sector. It highlights the benefits these technologies bring in terms of financial deepening and efficiency, while raising concerns about its potential in widening the digital divide between advanced and developing economies. The paper advances the discussion on the impact of this technology by distilling and categorizing the unique risks that it could pose to the integrity and stability of the financial system, policy challenges, and potential regulatory approaches. The evolving nature of this technology and its application in finance means that the full extent of its strengths and weaknesses is yet to be fully understood. Given the risk of unexpected pitfalls, countries will need to strengthen prudential oversight.

In Chapter 5, William Shughart also considers the part that politics played in banking legislation during the 1930s, but he looks at the banking legislation passed in the United States. Shughart draws par ticular attention to the provisions in the Banking Act of 1933 that required the separation of commercial and investment banking activ ities. Applying a public choice analysis, Shughart asks who gained from the provisions, and he concludes that the commercial banking industry, the investment banking industry, and the U. S. Treasury Department can all be said to have benefited in the years immedi ately following the passage of the act. Richard Timberlake, in his comment, extends Shughart's analysis to show how the federal gov ernment manipulated the monetary policy of the 1930s for its own benefit. The history of the regulation of the savings and loan industry is the subject of Chapter 6. James Barth and Martin Regalia examine the way in which regulation of the industry has evolved since the first savings and loan was established in the 1830s. They conclude that the stated purpose of regulation appears to have changed, even while the regulations themselves often have not. Barth and Regalia provide some important insights into the contribution of thrift regu lation to the current problems facing the indusb-y as well as some suggestions about the direction reform should-and should not take.

This comprehensive review of China's critically important subsectors covers banking, securities, and insurance, and includes those area's development, changing regulatory environments, competitive landscapes, key statistical data, and major players. Enhancing the depth of the guide are a set of special reports that address a range of hot topics: restructuring of the state-owned banks, organization of stock markets, and market potential of the insurance industry. With the most updated data and comprehensive information, this reference to China's financial services industry offers a wealth of information about these drastically changing subsectors.