Journal Article

Banking antitrust: are the assumptions still valid?

Abstract: In bank antitrust analyses, banking regulators rely on certain assumptions about products and services of banks, the markets in which they operate, competitors within those markets, and the effects of mergers or acquisitions on those markets. During the 1990s, financial innovation and changes in banking regulations changed the landscape in which banks compete. Consequently, the assumptions behind antitrust analyses have come into question. This article surveys recent studies relevant for assessing the validity of the assumptions that underlie banking antitrust. Most of the evidence supports the current assumptions; however, some of the evidence does call them into question.

Keywords: Bank mergers;

Bibliographic Information

Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Part of Series: Review

Publication Date: 2003

Volume: 85

Issue: Nov

Pages: 29-52