We measure the effect of an anti-predatory pilot program (Chicago, 2006) on mortgage default rates to test whether predatory lending was a key element in fueling the subprime crisis. Under the program, risky borrowers and/or risky mortgage contracts triggered review sessions by housing...

Saints and sinners -- Embracing Shylock -- Protestants, war, and capitalism -- The great experiment -- The new debt revolution -- Something old, something new -- Islam, interest, and microlending -- The consumer debt revolution -- Early interest rate tables and calculations

Acknowledgements -- Preface -- It's not just the inequality stupid! -- Shylock unchained -- Shylock chained -- Troubles in capitalist paradise -- Merchants of Venice on Wall Street -- The final "pound of flesh