Has regulatory reform been misdirected?

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a provocative and critical introduction and solutions to significant contemporary issues of financial regulation. Design/methodology/approach The paper is an expert’s review of contemporary issues and challenges in financial regulation. Findings The paper advocates that contemporary financial regulation challenges are addressed through governance reforms and an enhanced focus on maturity transformation, rather than a focus on just capital and liquidity management. In particular, more emphasis should be given to individual decision-makers within banks rather than institutions. Practical implications The review paper considers areas where future regulatory reform may be enhanced and redirected. Originality/value The review provides original and critical perspectives on contemporary regulatory challenges.