ABSTRACT

This study explores the major patterns of change in the evolution of financial crises as enduring phenomena and analyzes the paradoxical position that crises are at once similar to and different from each other. Brenda Spotton-Visano examines economic, psychological and social elements intrinsic to the process of capitalist accumulation and innovation to explain the enduring similarities of crises across historical episodes. She also assesses the impact that changing financial and economic structures have on determining the specific nature of crises and the differential effect these have in focal point, manner and extent of transmission to other, otherwise unrelated, parts of the economy.

Financial Crises offers a consistent method for interpreting variations in financial crises through time and allows for a better overall appreciation for both the transitory fragility and enduring flexibility of financial capitalism and the potential vulnerability created by on-going financial development. Topical and informative, this key book  is of keen interest to all those studying and researching international economics and political economy.

part I|42 pages

The socio-economic context

chapter 3|8 pages

Capitalism

A culture of accumulation as the context for innovation

chapter 5|8 pages

Conventional approaches

Speculation as a fool's paradise

part II|30 pages

The progression of a mania–panic episode

chapter 6|12 pages

Justifications and means

The institutional organisation of speculation

chapter 7|8 pages

The other side of the coin

The influence of credit creation and banks on speculation

chapter 8|8 pages

Recoil in crisis

From peak to panic

part III|39 pages

Variations in manias, panics and crises

chapter 9|15 pages

Societies in transition

Time–space comparisons of financial instability

chapter 10|15 pages

The bottom line

Towards institutional indicators of financial fragility

chapter 11|7 pages

Evolving financial crises

Reflections and projections