PAOLA LEONE is Professor of Banking and Finance at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. She is Coordinator of the 'Banking and Finance' PhD program and Chairperson ofthe'International Finance and Risk Management' Postgraduate Degree at 'Sapienza' University of Rome. Professor Leone is the author of several books and journal articles. Her main research interests include: banking, capital markets, risk management, mutual guarantee institutions. She has acted as a consultant and trainer for various financial intermediaries, public and private entities and consulting firms.GIANFRANCO A. VENTO is Associate Professor of Banking and Finance, Guglielmo Marconi University,Italy and Principal Lecturer in Banking & Finance at Regent's College in London, where he is Director of the Research Cluster in Banking & Finance and member of the Senate. He worked for five years at the Bank of Italy as Financial Analyst in the Banking Supervision Department. Professor Vento is author of four books and many scientific journal articles on banking and financial topics. His main research interests include: Microfinance and SME finance; money market; liquidity risk management; banking regulation and supervision; green finance. He has acted as a consultant and trainer for various banks, microfinance institutions, public entities and consulting firms.

• Introduction; G.A.Vento & P.Porretta An Analysis of Credit Guarantee Schemes: Suggestions from Literature; I.C.Panetta The Guarantee System in France; P.Porretta & I.G.Bikoula The Guarantee System in Italy; P.Leone The Guarantee System in Spain; I.C.Panetta & C.Lo Cascio The Guarantee System in Hungary; P.Capuano & P.Porretta The Guarantee System in Argentina; G.A.Vento & P.Agnese The Guarantee System in Chile; G.A.Vento & A.La Colla A Comparative Analysis of Mutual Guarantee Systems; P.Leone & P.Porretta