BL Integrates both the changing structure of the commercial banking industry in Europe and the strategic implications of these changesThe book begins by concentrating on the economics of banking, presenting an analysis of the principal environment forces affecting the financial sector: deregulation, internationalization, economic instability, technical change, and financial innovation. The second part offers valuable information on current trends in the five main EC countries. The analysis of each country includes a study of the recent evolution of its financial sector, in turn, each sector's inherent economic outlook in terms of profitability, costs, productivity, and competition, as well as the changes in the regulatory environment.The third part of the book is dedicated to an analysis of some of the strategic choices of European banks, such as scale, diversification, and internationalization. Finally, the pace of change within the European banking industry is evaluated, as well as how some of the banks are adapting to the new environment.