This paper argues that the credit crunch is the result of a particular problem in the world financial system, that is, of the phenomenon of "liquidity illusion". At the heart of this still poorly under-stood phenomenon lies the spiral of financial innovation and its effects on systemic...

For creditor countries on the periphery of the dollar standard such as China with current account surpluses, foreign mercantile pressure to appreciate their currencies and become more flexible is misplaced. Just the expectation of variable exchange appreciation seriously disrupts the natural...