Progress towards economic and monetary union in Western Europe has highlighted the importance of regional policies, while events in Eastern Europe have focused attention on the role of finance in development and may lead to a substantial diversion of capital flows. This volume from the Centre for Economic Policy Research addresses the relationships between growth, convergence, and capital market imperfections. Theoretical papers shed light on the debates over the role of financial structure in economic development and the scope for government intervention to promote regional development. Highly topical empirical papers examine the relationship between international lending and economic development in a historical perspective; the experience of regional policies in the European Community, and of financial liberalization in high-growth East Asian economies; and the development of financial markets in Eastern Europe.