Asset management is a major industry playing an increasingly important role in economic activity around the world. Traditionally, it has been primarily associated with the 'stock market' economies of the UK and the USA, but as this book shows some of the most spectacular growth in activity of recent years has occurred in continental Europe. This has presented opportunities and challenges. New forms of financial instruments and institutions have emerged in countries that have traditionally relied on debt and non-market forms of intermediation. Competition has intensified and entry has occurred...