About the authors -- Preface -- Learning tools walkthrough -- Money and the financial system -- An introduction to money and the financial system -- Money and the payments system -- Interest rates, financial instruments, and financial markets -- Future value, present value, and interest rates --...

"The entire content of this book is based on five core principles. Knowledge of these principles is the basis for understanding what the financial system does, how it is organized, how it is linked to the real economy, and how it is changing. If you understand these five principles, you will...

"Since June 2007, the creditworthiness of structured finance products has deteriorated rapidly. The number of downgrades in November 2007 alone exceeded 2,000 and many downgrades were severe, with 500 tranches downgraded more than 10 notches. Massive downgrades continued in 2008. More than...