How does the government regulate and supervise banks? Wharton prof. explains the democratic process

Wharton School Professor Peter Conti-Brown explains how the process of regulating and supervising banks is democratic in this excerpt from a full length Ripple Effect podcast episode part of the current series, "Meet the Authors."

EPISODE OVERVIEW What is bank supervision and why does it matter? In this episode of The Ripple Effect, Wharton’s Peter Conti-Brown explores the historical and evolving role of bank supervision in American capitalism. Drawing from his new book Private Finance, Public Power: A History of Bank Supervision in America, co-authored by Sean H. Vanatta, Conti-Brown explains how regulators and private banks manage financial risk—not through public rules alone, but through confidential supervision and discretionary judgment. From the Great Depression to the 2008 crisis and debates in 2025, he examines how supervision embodies democracy, innovation, and the balance between public accountability and private risk.

PODCAST OVERVIEW Every day, business scholars answer pressing questions in their research - but what do their insights mean for you? In this podcast, Wharton faculty dive into what inspired their studies and how their findings resonate with the world today. Learn how research insights translate into knowledge you can use, with host Dan Loney.

Learn more at http://whr.tn/rippleeffect.

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