The aim of this issue is to supply a complete panorama of the ongoing upheavals in the financial sector under the impact of the digital revolution. Finance is confronted with a new technological revolution, which is profoundly changing the economic models of the players in this sector. In fact, the digital system puts into question the organization of banking and of finance. Customer relations, pricing, means of payment, as well as market transactions are all affected. New players emerge that compete with financial establishments in some areas of their businesses. Moreover, these changes make it necessary to rethink regulation. Finally, the problem of secure transactions is posed more than ever.
In addition to the main topic, this issue proposes a financial history column on money, the rich, and the poor in nineteenth century France, as well as two different articles on current subjects. One takes up insurance systems to cover the risk of bank defaults, particularly deposit guarantees, and the other seeks to determine to what extent the rating agencies have grown and increased their power thanks to the three series of agreements in Basle.