Markets for the Many
A new report by think tank Respublica has been launched in Westminster called "Markets for the Many: How civic finance can open up markets and widen access". The report was part-sponsored by the Association of FInancial Mutuals.
Recommendations from the think tank report include that the Government should ease the capital ratio requirements on building societies and encourage them to lend to small businesses; allow financial mutuals to raise extra capital to increase competition within the insurance sector; and introduce a Community Reinvestment Act in the next Parliament to maximise lending to our deprived communities.
The 'mid-term mutuals manifesto' was issued in June 2013.
Key messages include:
– Since the 2010 General Election – the coalition has implemented many of the proposals from the first Mutuals Manifesto
– This is a positive document, full of ideas for how mutuals can help our country
– Mutuals do not need and are not asking for favours from government. But they do need to do business on a level playing field
– The sector seeks to work with Government in a partnership to maximise the contribution that mutuals can make to our economy and society
Oxford report on Measuring Mutuality
The AFM Board commissioned Professor Michie of the Kellogg College, Oxford University to produce a report on 'Measuring Mutuality- Indicators for Financial Mutuals' in 2012. An executive summary of the report is available here, and the full report is now available to download.
A new report on "Future proofing the UK mutual insurance sector" was launched at the AFM Conference in November; read it here.
