ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book offers a detailed analysis on the concept of rent and its role in the development of financial systems. It analyzes the linkage between financial development and economic growth, delving into the rich stock of financial literature. The book highlights the role of banks as financial intermediaries. It examines the effects of bank rent on Sri Lankan financial system. The book also analyzes the effects of rent on Islamic banks. It also examines the rent effects on banks in the Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) countries. It concludes by summarizing the major findings and offering a general theory of the financial sector rent. The book provides a platform for further academic discussion and debate toward reaching a pragmatic solution for a very critical area of an economy, the financial system.
