This text opens with a discussion of the nature, causes and consequences of the Asian Financial Crisis (AFC). It examines the impact the AFC had as well as offers answers for the questions: why was the economic downturn so severe and why was the territory initially a laggard in economic recovery?

The sharp 1994 Mexican peso devaluation was followed by a financial-sector crisis, forcing the Mexican government to retake control of several banks and to grant substantial assistance to many others. This paper tests several hypotheses concerning the impact of devaluation. First, event-study...