This book examines the analytical basis and practical experience of financial reforms in a number of countries, primarily developing nations. A key finding is that financial reforms have led to improved resource allocation - an a priori belief not hitherto tested. This finding is consistent with the argument that efforts in developing countries to maximize efficiency of resource utilization cannot be underestimated in their importance. Three key lessons suggest the importance of managing the reform process rather than adopting a laissez-faire approach: first, more successful reform must take account of information capital; second, initial conditions in finance - balance sheets, human and information capital, and incentive systems - are fundamental in determining how to go about reform; and third, different sequences of reforms can be tolerated and, with certain preconditions, do well. Read Less