Path-breaking research on one of the most important macroeconomic policy challenges in the post-crisis world, presented in accessible language Written and researched by a team of experts from the International Monetary Fund, other policy-making institutions, and academia, this timely book looks...

Intro -- CONTENTS -- Preface -- Chapter 1. At Inception -- Chapter 2. The Great Depression -- The Prelude to Disaster -- The Speculative Bubble -- The Great Crash -- The Aftermath -- GNP and the Downward Trade Spiral -- Keynes's Academic Precursors -- Keynes's Policy Suggestions -- Chapter 3....

Banking regulation invites banks to gamble when buying government bonds that regulators consider to be risk-free. The adverse effects on financial stability are known. In turn, this study shows that governments have an incentive to use banking regulation in order to enhance their fiscal...