ABSTRACT
Over a number of years, there developed quite a sharp contrast between what might be regarded as the British tradition of self-liquidating loans, primarily short-term in character, and Continental European practice, which in the past has favoured much more intimate and longer-term financial relations with industry than were to be found in the United Kingdom. To some extent, these differences have in recent years become rather less obvious. Nevertheless, there remain significant variations in attitudes that call for both comment and analysis. Examples could be drawn from a number of European countries, but it will be sufficient to concentrate largely on experience in France and Germany. Japan has also developed somewhat similar arrangements and can therefore be included in the same category.
