Report Summary

In June 2011, the Economist Intelligence Unit carried out a global survey on behalf of KPMG International to assess the extent to which companies are adopting a co-ordinated approach to their governance, risk and compliance (GRC) activities. It explored the costs and challenges associated with this initiative and the benefits that companies can expect to gain from better alignment of their risk and compliance functions within an overall governance framework. 

The Global microscope on the microfinance business environment 2011 benchmarks and evaluates business and operating conditions for microfinance in developing countries around the world. Commissioned and funded by MIF, CAF and IFC, the Global Microscope 2011 is the Economist Intelligence Unit’s third annual effort to assign ratings to microfinance markets in 55 developing countries worldwide.

Global growth is shifting East. The UN’s World Economic Situation and Prospects 2011 report revealed the strikingly different outlooks for developing countries in the East, where growth continues to be strong, and for developed economies in the West, where growth remains stubbornly anaemic.

In this report, produced by the Economist Intelligence Unit and sponsored by BNY Mellon, we examine how investors, faced with a dearth of investment opportunities in developed markets, are approaching emerging markets.

In this report, produced by the Economist Intelligence Unit and sponsored by BNY Mellon, we highlight the development of key trends in asset allocation and risk management in response to the current economic climate. This report is the first of two follow-up papers to The Search for Growth report published in June.

Report Summary

Proactive response: How mature financial services firms deal with troubled projects is an Economist Intelligence Unit research report, sponsored by Oracle.

The report is the culmination of a research programme begun in 2010 to explore the role of savings in financial prosperity. It contains an article from Robin Bew, chief economist and editorial director of the Economist Intelligence Unit, essays from nine thinkers who took part in a roundtable debate on savings in October 2010 and a short report exploring the business world’s view of what is the right balance between policymakers, corporates and individuals in supporting savings, based on a survey of over 800 business leaders from around the world and in-depth interviews.

Report Summary

Faced with the prospect of far-reaching reform over the next few years, many financial institutions are already formulating a response. Leading banks recognise that a proactive approach to meeting their future obligations, along with one that maximises the efficiency of the compliance process, will lead to increased competitiveness in the longer term. Accordingly, they are taking active steps to re-evaluate their business model, revamp their capital and liquidity management, and ensure that their compliance process is as streamlined and effective as possible.

Report Summary

Too good to fail? New challenges for risk management in financial services is an Economist Intelligence Unit report that examines the steps banks and insurers around the world are taking to reinforce their risk management capabilities against the backdrop of an improving economic environment. The report is sponsored by SAS. The Economist Intelligence Unit bears sole responsibility for the content of this report. The findings and views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsor.

Change amidst uncertainty: how banks are adapting to the emerging regulatory landscape is a Capco report, written by the Economist Intelligence Unit.

It examines how, in light of continuing regulatory uncertainty, financial institutions are reshaping their capital markets businesses to operate effectively in the new environment, and focuses particularly on the  likely effect of regulation on overall structure as well as front, middle and back office operations.