EUGENE A. LUDWIG

I believe we must begin now to seriously focus on this central question- to what degree should financial providers besides banks be asked to step up to the plate and participate in CRA-like [Community Rehabilitation Act] programs as the banking industry has done?

We must move rapidly toward achieving worldwide accounting standards that are at least as rigorous as the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States. It is hardly possible to have a meaningful evaluation of institutional risk unless a reliable and readily understandable picture of the basic economics of the institution can be obtained.

The market can play a crucial role in disciplining the banking system, but this requires reliable information about banks' financial condition.

It is absolutely essential that bank supervisory bodies have the enforcement tools, the independence, and the political support to take tough enforcement measures when they are needed. Everything else—more uniform accounting standards, improved disclosure, and risk-based supervision—will count for little if supervisors lack effective powers of enforcement and the will to use them.

It is absolutely essential that bank supervisory bodies have the enforcement tools, the independence, and the political support to take tough enforcement measures when they are needed. Everything else—more uniform accounting standards, improved disclosure, and risk-based supervision—will count for little if supervisors lack effective powers of enforcement and the will to use them.

The market can play a crucial role in disciplining the banking system, but this requires reliable information about banks' financial condition.

I believe we must begin now to seriously focus on this central question- to what degree should financial providers besides banks be asked to step up to the plate and participate in CRA-like [Community Rehabilitation Act] programs as the banking industry has done?

We must move rapidly toward achieving worldwide accounting standards that are at least as rigorous as the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States. It is hardly possible to have a meaningful evaluation of institutional risk unless a reliable and readily understandable picture of the basic economics of the institution can be obtained.