The wave of financial implosionsof the 1990s threw millions of people into poverty and misery. Unlike earlier outbreaks of financial instability, in the late 1990s, crises were not confined to the peripheral regions of the global economy. To the bewilderment of many, distress soon spread to the seemingly well-governed, advanced capitalist world. The difficulties faced by high-profile firms like LTCM, Enron, WorldCom, Parlamat, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, along with the burst of the Nasdaq bubble itself, have accentuated the fragility of finance, and compromised many conventional views on crisis and its management. What, then, are the causes of fragile finance today? How can we better understand the nature of financial crisis in the age of globalization? What lessons can be drawn from the recent experience? Exploring various approaches to understanding financial fragility and crisis, this book seeks to provide answers to these questions.
'It would be enough that Anastasia Nesvetailova has brought Hyman Minsky to our attention. But she has done more: she offers a vibrant and controversial reading of why today's global financial system is unstable and prone to crisis. This is an original work that challenges how we should think about global finance. It will be read and engaged with by anyone who seeks a deep knowledge of one of the most important elements of our contemporary global political economy.' - Randall Germain, Associate Professor, Carleton University, Canada
'All observers of global finance sense its unstable foundations. In Fragile Finance, Anastasia Nesvetailova takes us to the heart of debates about this concern. Drawing on a range of case studies and theories, especially the work of Hyman Minsky, she provides a compelling argument that illiquidity remains an ever-present threat, despite the huge volumes of financial transactions. This is essential reading for students and practitioners of global finance, although they may find its message disturbing.' - Dick Bryan, Associate Professor of Political Economy, University of Sydney, Australia and author of Capitalism with Derivatives: A Political Economy of Financial Derivatives, Capital and Class.
'The book explains why governments struggle to stay 'in control' using combinations of regulation or deregulation, and interest and currency exchange rates...To form your own opinion, I recommend that you read this book. It is packed with facts and is cross-referenced to a large bibliography...' - Albert Elder, Accounting Technician
Introduction
The Rise of Fragile Finance
A Theory of Fragile Finance
Keynesian and Heterodox Theories of Financial Crises
Hyman Minsky and Fragile Finance
Dilemmas and Paradoxes of Fragile Finance
The East Asian Crisis: A Minskyan View
Ponzi Capitalism Russian-Style
Ponzi Finance Goes Global
Conclusion
ANASTASIA NESVETAILOVA is Lecturer in International Political Economy at City University, London, UK. Her research work focuses on the themes of global financial fragility and crises; the formation of financial and monetary policies; and process of capitalist evolution in Russia and other FSU countries.
Description
The wave of financial implosionsof the 1990s threw millions of people into poverty and misery. Unlike earlier outbreaks of financial instability, in the late 1990s, crises were not confined to the peripheral regions of the global economy. To the bewilderment of many, distress soon spread to the seemingly well-governed, advanced capitalist world. The difficulties faced by high-profile firms like LTCM, Enron, WorldCom, Parlamat, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, along with the burst of the Nasdaq bubble itself, have accentuated the fragility of finance, and compromised many conventional views on crisis and its management. What, then, are the causes of fragile finance today? How can we better understand the nature of financial crisis in the age of globalization? What lessons can be drawn from the recent experience? Exploring various approaches to understanding financial fragility and crisis, this book seeks to provide answers to these questions.
Reviews
'It would be enough that Anastasia Nesvetailova has brought Hyman Minsky to our attention. But she has done more: she offers a vibrant and controversial reading of why today's global financial system is unstable and prone to crisis. This is an original work that challenges how we should think about global finance. It will be read and engaged with by anyone who seeks a deep knowledge of one of the most important elements of our contemporary global political economy.' - Randall Germain, Associate Professor, Carleton University, Canada
'All observers of global finance sense its unstable foundations. In Fragile Finance, Anastasia Nesvetailova takes us to the heart of debates about this concern. Drawing on a range of case studies and theories, especially the work of Hyman Minsky, she provides a compelling argument that illiquidity remains an ever-present threat, despite the huge volumes of financial transactions. This is essential reading for students and practitioners of global finance, although they may find its message disturbing.' - Dick Bryan, Associate Professor of Political Economy, University of Sydney, Australia and author of Capitalism with Derivatives: A Political Economy of Financial Derivatives, Capital and Class.
'The book explains why governments struggle to stay 'in control' using combinations of regulation or deregulation, and interest and currency exchange rates...To form your own opinion, I recommend that you read this book. It is packed with facts and is cross-referenced to a large bibliography...' - Albert Elder, Accounting Technician
Contents
Introduction
The Rise of Fragile Finance
A Theory of Fragile Finance
Keynesian and Heterodox Theories of Financial Crises
Hyman Minsky and Fragile Finance
Dilemmas and Paradoxes of Fragile Finance
The East Asian Crisis: A Minskyan View
Ponzi Capitalism Russian-Style
Ponzi Finance Goes Global
Conclusion
Authors
ANASTASIA NESVETAILOVA is Lecturer in International Political Economy at City University, London, UK. Her research work focuses on the themes of global financial fragility and crises; the formation of financial and monetary policies; and process of capitalist evolution in Russia and other FSU countries.
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