Capital movements refer to cross-border, international capital movements. So-called induced capital movements are payments caused by imports and exports of goods and services. The so-called autonomous capital movement includes independent transfers of cash and capital investments. The latter now accounts for the largest share of international financial flows.
The free movement of capital (from state intervention) is one of the four fundamental freedoms of the EU and is therefore one of the central elements of the internal market. However, in the global financial market crisis that became apparent in 2008, the movement of capital could only be secured through massive intervention by the states.