The future of small benks in the new competitive environment. The case of the italian banking industry

RESEARCH STRUCTURE - Aims and methodology. DESCRIPTIVE BACKGROUND - Specific features of the italian banking system. Role and rationale of small banks. EMPIRICAL RESEARCH AND MAIN FINDINGS - Conduct and performance of italian banks an exploratory analysis. The profit-structure relationship in small italian banks a literature review. Analysis of the efficiencyof italian banks. Analysis of the performance of italian small banks. CONCLUSIONS - Conclusions, implications, and limitations. Bibliography. Appendixes.