Measurement of Financial Development: A Fresh Approach

Financial development can be defined as the policies, factors, and the institutions that lead to the efficient intermediation and effective financial markets. A strong financial system offers risk diversification and effective capital allocation. The greater the financial development, the higher would be the mobilization of savings and its allocation to high return projects. Financial development can be measured by a number of factors including the depth, size, access, and soundness of financial system. It can be measured by examining the performance and activities of the financial markets, banks, bond markets and financial institutions. It is observed that higher the degree of financial development in a country, the wider will be the availability of financial services. A developed financial system offers higher returns with less risk. In this paper it is attempted to collect main components of financial development including Banks, Stock markets, insurance companies and bond markets f