Abstract

The recent proposals to reform the minimum capital adequacy framework put forward by the by the Basel Committee in December 2009 have important implications for the future of the international financial system and of the banking industry. These proposals concern issues such as minimum liquidity requirements, the definition of bank capital, the procyclicality of capital requirements, systemic banks, the requirements related to market risks in banks' trading books and leverage. This paper critically discusses and evaluates these proposals in light of the empirical evidence provided by theoretical and empirical research in banking. Also, the implications for potential future research subjects are highlighted with reference to implications for both bank management and supervisory authorities.