The importance of financial structure for monetary transmission in Europe

Countries differ as to financial structure. That goes also for countries taking part in the Economic and Monetary Union, EMU. As a result, the ECB's monetary policy does not necessarily affect economic activity and price developments in individual euro area countries to the same extent. The study into the importance of financial structure for monetary transmission therefore figures prominently on the agenda of monetary policy makers. This paper, based in part on research done at the Bank, discusses several aspects of the link between monetary transmission and financial structure, and focuses especially on the European situation and the future.