ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. A country's finances are intimately connected not only with the finances of other countries, but also with the health of its own political system. Large systemic financial crises are interesting history. The following pages seek to capture some of the drama of financial collapses and their impact on small countries. Small countries are often overlooked, but they hold a unique place in the history of financial and economic crises. The trials and travails of small countries are particularly worth examining in light of the role that Iceland, Ireland, Dubai, and Greece had in the end of the easy money period that marked the first decade of the twenty-first century. The role of small countries in the global financial turmoil is readily evident. Big countries need to be aware of problems in small countries.
