'… a most welcome book … there is a surprising amount of information collected, well organised, and thoughtfully discussed.' Journal of Economic Literature

• 1. Introduction; 2. A theoretical framework for analysing the effects of the financial system on economic performance; 3. The significance of bank loans in the finance of aggregate investment in Germany; 4. Legal forms of enterprise in Germany, and their implications for the role of the German financial system; 5. The structure of the German banking system; 6. Bank supervisory board representation and other aspects of German bank lending to firms; 7. German bank behaviour when firms are in financial distress; 8. The ownership structure of large German firms and its implications for German banks' corporate control role; 9. Do German banks act as delegated exercisers of equity's control rights?; 10. Conclusion.

'… a most welcome book … there is a surprising amount of information collected, well organised, and thoughtfully discussed.' Journal of Economic Literature

• 1. Introduction; 2. A theoretical framework for analysing the effects of the financial system on economic performance; 3. The significance of bank loans in the finance of aggregate investment in Germany; 4. Legal forms of enterprise in Germany, and their implications for the role of the German financial system; 5. The structure of the German banking system; 6. Bank supervisory board representation and other aspects of German bank lending to firms; 7. German bank behaviour when firms are in financial distress; 8. The ownership structure of large German firms and its implications for German banks' corporate control role; 9. Do German banks act as delegated exercisers of equity's control rights?; 10. Conclusion.

'… a most welcome book … there is a surprising amount of information collected, well organised, and thoughtfully discussed.' Journal of Economic Literature

• 1. Introduction; 2. A theoretical framework for analysing the effects of the financial system on economic performance; 3. The significance of bank loans in the finance of aggregate investment in Germany; 4. Legal forms of enterprise in Germany, and their implications for the role of the German financial system; 5. The structure of the German banking system; 6. Bank supervisory board representation and other aspects of German bank lending to firms; 7. German bank behaviour when firms are in financial distress; 8. The ownership structure of large German firms and its implications for German banks' corporate control role; 9. Do German banks act as delegated exercisers of equity's control rights?; 10. Conclusion.