The subject of this article is whether the financialisation of agricultural commodity futures trading contributed to the sudden price rises in 2006-2008. It also discusses the effect of financialisation on the functioning and usefulness of futures markets, and considers whether speculation could...

In light of the recent financial crises in the emerging markets, the coming-into-force of the financial services agreement under the GATS has been considered a success. While the agreement provides for little new liberalization but rather formalizes the status quo, it was feared that governments...