Includes bibliographical references (p. 372-387) and index.

Introduction -- Financial crises in the USA and Europe, but not in Asia -- Appendix 2.1. Chronology of events: January 2007-June 2011 -- Could today's financial crisis have been foreseen? -- The US housing market and the subprime crisis -- Securitization and derivatives spread the crisis around the world -- Appendix 5.1 Inherent conflicts of interest in subprime securitization; Appendix 5.2 Write-downs in banks and insurance companies, 2007-2009 -- Liquidity risk aspects of the crisis and a comparison with 1907 and 1929 -- Appendix 6.1 The liquidity-risk framework proposed by theFSA and the BIS -- Credit risk aspects of the crisis, rating and solvency -- Appendix 7.1 Government support activities for banks' capital ratios, 2007-2010 -- Appendix 7.2 The proposed new capital requirements under Basel III -- Worldwide changes in regulation and supervision as a result of the crisis -- Appendix 9.1. list of regulatory authorities in the United States -- Appendix 9.2. Overview of bank taxes in different countries -- Outstanding issues.

A detailed yet non-technical analysis of the recent financial crisis.

Also issued online.