Big Bad Banks? The Impact of U.S. Branch Deregulation on Income Distribution

Martin Goetz and Carlos Espina provided exceptional research assistance. We especially thank Phil Strahan for providing insightful comments and sharing his data and Yona Rubinstein, whose suggestions substantively improved the quality of the research. We received many helpful comments at the World Bank conference, "Access to Finance," and seminars at the Bank of Israel, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Brown University, Boston University, International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank, Georgia State University, New York University, Tilburg University, University of Frankfurt, University of Lausanne, University of Mannheim, and the University of Virginia. This paper's findings, interpretations, and conclusions are entirely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the World Bank, its Executive Directors, the countries they represent, or the National Bureau of Economic Research.

• August 14, 2007