This seventh edition of an investment classic has been thoroughly revised and expanded following the latest crises to hit international markets. Renowned economist Robert Z. Aliber introduces the concept that global financial crises in recent years are not independent events, but symptomatic of...

1: Financial Crises: a Hardy Perennial -- 2: The Anatomy of a Typical Crisis.-3: Speculative Manias -- 4: Fueling the Flames: the Expansion of Credit -- 5: The Critical Stage – When the Bubble Is About To Pop -- 6: Bernie Madoff: Frauds, Swindles, and the Credit Cycle -- 7: Domestic Contagion:...

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 :...

In general, banks play a growth-enhancing role for the real economy. However, distorted incentives for banks, depositors, and regulators in connection with bank insolvency may corrupt banks' credit allocation and monitoring decisions, leading to suboptimal real economic outcomes. A rules-based...