The financial crisis has affected the real economy in stages yet nevertheless at an unexpected rate and with all regions being affected simultaneously. It advanced almost independently of the regions' exposure to the actual initial causes, among them the subprime crisis, innovative financial...

Boom, bust, and misery : the curse of capitalism -- History of the roller coaster -- How unstable is the American economy? -- The income gap -- The consumption gap -- The housing crisis -- Investment and profit -- The credit balloon and the financial crisis -- Government spending and taxes --...