This paper argues that the credit crunch is the result of a particular problem in the world financial system, that is, of the phenomenon of "liquidity illusion". At the heart of this still poorly under-stood phenomenon lies the spiral of financial innovation and its effects on systemic...

This paper argues that the credit crunch is the result of a particular problem in the world financial system, that is, of the phenomenon of 'liquidity illusion.' At the heart of this still poorly under-stood phenomenon lies the spiral of financial innovation and its effects on systemic...

This paper focuses on regulatory challenges posed by the two interconnected structures of the global financial system – the economy of tax havens (or offshore financial centres), and the shadow banking system. The financial crisis of 2007-09 has revealed that tax havens structures and shadow...

Safe assets and shadow banking are two closely linked phenomena in contemporary finance. The link is loan securitisation: at a time of a global safe asset shortage, it falls on the shadow banking system to help make good that shortage by manufacturing extra quantities of asset backed securities....