The economic destruction of the foreclosure crisis and the Great Recession included not only the 4.5 million families who lost their homes and 8 million workers who lost their jobs, but the crippling aftereffect of poor credit histories that affected the ability of these consumers to obtain...

During the Great Recession, the collapse of consumption across the U.S. varied greatly but systematically with house-price declines. We find that financial distress among U.S. households amplified the sensitivity of consumption to house-price shocks. We uncover two essential facts: (1) the...

Business cycle dynamic in Germany has still been high at the beginning of this year. However in due course of 2008 adverse external impact especially from the US will make themselves being felt. Growth will slow down to 1.4 % in 2009. It will be driven mainly by consumption. Unemployment will go...