Commercial Bank Behavior in Local Markets: Theory and Evidence from New England

摘要

This is a study of the history and development of private growth and public regulation of the commercial banking industry, comparing the U.S. as a whole with the New England region. Commercial banks are the principal source of debt finance for small, local businesses, therefore what happens to these banks can have an important effect on local economic development. The analytical portion of the monograph is devoted to an examination of the factors which determine how much of a typical bank's portfolio is allocated to commercial and industrial loans, as distinct from mortgages or the acquisition of various securities.