Stripping away government regulation of banking would help both consumers and businesses. Consumers would be able to obtain a mix of financial services tailored to their individual needs for less cost and with greater security than is currently the case. Businesses could more easily acquire loans, insurance, and capital, all necessary for operating in a more competitive and integrated world economy.

But those benefits will only be realized if government steps aside and allows banks and customers to manage their own affairs. Financial institutions in other countries often are freer than those in America, putting many foreign firms at a competitive advantage over American ones. It is time to establish a level playing field by removing counterproductive regulation of American banks.

More on Banking Law and Regulation

Commentary

‘Too Big to Fail’ Is Too Foolish to Continue

By Louise C. Bennetts. Investor’s Business Daily. April 26, 2013.

The Cyprus ‘Bail-In’ Exposes ‘Too Big To Fail’ as All Too Timid

By Louise C. Bennetts. Forbes.com. April 18, 2013.

Europe’s Bogus Bonus Caps

By Dalibor Rohac. National Review (Online). March 11, 2013.

Cato Studies

Questioning Homeownership as a Public Policy Goal

By Morris A. Davis. Policy Analysis No. 696. May 15, 2012.

Reputation under Regulation: The Fair Credit Reporting Act at 40 and Lessons for the Internet Privacy Debate

By Jim Harper. Policy Analysis No. 690. December 8, 2011.

Capital Inadequacies: The Dismal Failure of the Basel Regime of Bank Capital Regulation

By Kevin Dowd, Martin Hutchinson, Jimi M. Hinchliffe & Simon Ashby. Policy Analysis No. 681. July 29, 2011.

Articles

Would Consolidating Regulators Avoid the Next Crisis?

Mark A. Calabria. Lombard Street. Vol. 1. No. 16. November 15, 2009.

Public Filings

Tax Reform and Residential Real Estate

By Mark A. Calabria. Testimony. April 25, 2013.

Gabelli v. SEC

By Ilya Shapiro, Walter Olson and David Scott. Legal Briefs. November 16, 2012.

Credit Crunch: Is the CFPB Restricting Consumer Access to Credit?

By Mark A. Calabria. Testimony. July 24, 2012.

Reviews & Journals

Deregulation and the Global Market Revolution

Frederick W. Smith. Cato's Letter. Fall 2006.

Events

Super-Legislatures: Evaluating Dodd-Frank’s CFPB and OLA Provisions and Obamacare’s IPAB

Featuring Michael F. Cannon, Louise C. Bennetts and Trevor Burrus. April 1, 2013. Policy Forum.

Would a Financial Transaction Tax Affect Financial Market Activity?

Featuring Mark A. Calabria. March 13, 2013. Policy Forum.

Should Investment Advisers Be Regulated, and If So, How?

Featuring Mark A. Calabria. September 25, 2012. Policy Forum.