Quantitative characteristics of epic recession -- Qualitative characteristics of epic recession -- The dynamics of epic recession -- U.S. depressions in the nineteenth century -- 'Type I' epic recession : 1907-1914 -- 'Type II' epic recession : 1929-1931 -- The epic recession of 2007-2010 -- The...

Foreword -- Robert M. Solow -- Introduction -- Financial crises: a hardy perennial -- The anatomy of a typical crisis -- Speculative manias -- Fueling the flames : the expansion of credit -- The critical stage : when the bubble is about to pop -- Euphoria and paper wealth -- Bernie madoff :...

Presents the empirical data of business cycles and the theories that economists have developed to explain and prevent them, and considers case studies of recessions and depressions in the United States and internationally.