The document discusses the evolution of the Basel Accords from 1988 to the present. It highlights that:
1) Basel I, adopted in 1988, aimed to strengthen bank stability and create equal competition. However, it only considered credit risk and encouraged regulatory arbitrage.
2) Basel II, introduced in 2004, aimed to make capital requirements more risk-sensitive by incorporating banks' internal risk management. It included three pillars for minimum capital, supervisory review, and market discipline.
3) While Basel III, finalized in 2010 after the financial crisis, aims to mitigate past damage, the results of its stricter capital standards are still to be seen as countries implement its guidelines.