Consumer Protection Regulation in Low-Access Environments: Opportunities to Promote Responsible Finance

Responsible finance is much in the news these days, as the fallout from irresponsible financial practices and products in the United States and other developed markets continues to affect global finance. Regulatory failure clearly played a role in the meltdown of the financial system. One silver lining of the global financial crisis is that more attention is being paid to financial consumer protection. Debates in the legislatures and central banks of countries with sophisticated financial markets are highlighting the link between protecting financial consumers and stable, efficient markets. Restoring consumer confidence in the financial system is a key priority.