Doctoral thesis of Philosophy: The macroeconomic consequences of financialisation

Finance is considered as the lifeblood of the economy and it is integral to a country's economic growth and stability. However, this perception has been called into question, particularly following the global financial crisis, giving rise to new research questions. For example, does too much finance harm economic growth? And does the financial sector serve society's economic and social needs? This thesis aims to provide cross-sectional and time-series evidence on the macroeconomic consequences of financialisation in an international context. Financialisation is defined as the increase in the size and importance of a country's financial sector relative to the overall economy.