New Frontiers in
Banking and Capital Markets

Rome, 15th and 16th of December 2022

Faculty of Economics
Sapienza University
Via del Castro Laurenziano 9
00161 Rome
Italy

Keynote Speaker:
Nobel Laureate Michael Spence

Attendance to the conference is free of charge.

Attendance to the Gala dinner is by invitation only.

The conference will take place between Thursday morning and Friday afternoon at the Faculty of Economics of Sapienza.

Jointly Organized by

Wolfgang Bessler, Marina Brogi, Samuel Vigne

The New Frontiers in Banking and Capital Markets conference aims at providing a high-level conference setting where academics, practitioners, and regulators will present and discuss new ideas and exchange views on emerging research topics as well as perspectives on current challenges for banks and capital markets. Sustainability and ESG are therefore important topics.

The conference includes traditional top-level research paper presentations and discussion sessions based on a competitive open call for papers and invited research papers as well as policy round tables with high-level representatives from regulatory authorities and industry. Submission will be closed Mid-August 2022 and authors will be notified by October 2022.

Conference background

Banks and capital markets as well as market participants are faced with dramatic challenges from environmental, social, and governance (ESG) changes and detailed requirements from governments and from public concerns. Consequently, more and more firms develop sustainable strategies and disclose ESG information as ESG demands are quickly increasing. Companies taking these challenges seriously have already started integrating ESG consideration into their activities. They should have a promising future when gaining the support of banks, institutional investors, and financial market participants. Therefore, banks and capital markets have a pivotal role in determining how to best contribute and structure this transformation to a sustainable future. They have a significant responsibility in the allocation of funds to entities that help creating an ESG-friendly future environment. 

At the same time, governments and regulators worldwide are increasingly focusing on ESG practices to protect consumers and promote a more sustainable behavior by companies and investors. The European Commission is at the forefront in driving this transition with its Next Generation EU program. Therefore, decision makers, policy makers, stakeholders, investors, and corporate managers alike need to understand the implications and effects that a new regulatory framework has on strategies, business models, financial measures, and investment decisions. These new rules are expected to bring a more long-term focus on corporate strategies with respect to ESG and other governance shortcomings.

The objective of this conference is to advance research in banking and capital markets with a strong focus on integrating and advancing sustainability and ESG aspects. Therefore, sustainability and ESG are among the main topics of the conference. This is in line with the most recent corporate and institutional investor focus as well as the objectives of the Next Generation EU program. The interaction between academics, regulators and representatives from authorities and industry should provide an excellent forum for a fruitful discussion. 

Authors of the selected papers will come from different international universities and institutions. The conference will provide participants with high-level international networking opportunities.

Special Issues:

On the topics of the conference, two special issues will be published in (i) the International Review of Financial Analysis (A Anvur, IF: 8.235) guest editors Wolfgang Bessler and Marina Brogi, and (ii) Finance Research Letters (A Anvur, IF: 9.848) guest editors Wolfgang Bessler, Valentina Lagasio and Samuel Vigne.

Conference Organizers:

The Program Chairs of this New Frontiers in Banking and Capital Markets conference in 2022 are Wolfgang Bessler, Deutsche Börse Senior Professor of Empirical Capital Market Research (University of Hamburg), Marina Brogi, Professor of Banking and Capital Markets (Sapienza University of Rome), and Samuel Vigne, Professor of Finance (LUISS University Rome).

The Joint Research Center of the European Commission has agreed to act as co-organizer of the 2022 conference along with FFEA.

List of Potential Topics (not exhaustive)

I. Banking
1. Future of European banking union
2. Commercial banking & financial services
3. Banks and social responsibility
4. Bank management and environment
5. Safety net in European banking
6. Global financial crisis and Covid-19
7. Future of European monetary union
8. Monetary economics and central banking
9. Foreign currency issues
10. Investment banking

II. Capital Markets
1. Future of European capital market union
2. Financial market integration/segmentation
3. Entrepreneurship, venture capital and ESG
4. Private & public equity markets: IPOs, SPACs
5. Acquisitions and divestures to enhance ESG
6. Corporate governance: sustainability & CSR
7. Shareholder activism and climate change
8. Corporate governance and green investments
9. Optimal asset allocation and ESG
10. Global energy & environment issues