Product Description

The Origin of Financial Crises provides a compelling analysis of the forces behind today's economic crisis. In a series of disarmingly simple arguments George Cooper challenges the core principles of today's economic orthodoxy, explaining why financial markets do not obey the efficient market principles described in today's economic textbooks but are instead inherently unstable and habitually crisis prone.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19891 in Books
• Published on: 2008-08-26
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 200 pages

Review
"A must-read" --The Economist

"a well-written book" --Financial Times

"Awesomely lucid." --Dominic Lawson, The Independent

About the Author
Dr. George Cooper was born in Sunderland and studied at Durham University. He has designed gyroscopes for guidance and control systems, worked as a fund manager for Goldman Sachs, as a strategist for Deutsche Bank and most recently as the London head of interest rate research at JPMorgan. He lives in London with his wife and two children.

Customer Reviews

COOPER HAS WRITTEN A READABLE MASTERPIECE
I completely agree with the positive recommendations of The Economist Magazine and the reviewer. George Cooper combines a strong technical and practical investment background to produce a modern study of the best management of our complex economy. I feel Cooper opens this subject up to every thoughtful investor {regardless their background) by writing in down-to-earth English. He uses everyday examples, like a baker making and selling bread. His clear understandings of the material and deep sympathy for the reader motivate his use of these everyday examples to eliminate the need for mathematical equations. He still maintains the needed precision.
I was persuaded that economic crises are inevitable, and enjoyed his ideas on how we might deal with them. I would like to recommend Cooper's clear, cogent presentation to every investor and student who is curious about how to improve our economy.

A perceptive book
This book asserts that whilst efficient market theory does fit trade in goods and services generally, the evidence does not support its fitting assets such as land, and shares. It argues that as a result of what the author sees as a state of denial by most economists, economic policy targets inflation or aims to maintain continuous economic growth. The author suggests, with arguments that are said to be based on the thoughts of Keynes and Minsky and seem compelling to a non-economist, that central banks should rather target asset/land price inflation.

The author is a control engineer and a financial analyst, and his arguments resonate with this reviewer who is also an engineer by origin. What would be interesting is to have reasoned comments from an open minded professonal economist.

That said the book is a good read and for the curious a very different analysis of the financial turmoil of 2008.

Excellent insight into the conditions that created the current financial crisis
172 page analysis of the origin of the current financial crisis. Author argues that the widely accepted Efficient Markets theory has dominated economic thinking of the management of the economy/financial markets. Alas, the facts do not support this theory. Crisis appear far more frequently that theory suggests. In fact, he argues that financial systems are prone to the formation of boom-bust cycles. As an example, rising property prices give lenders a false sense of security in increasing lending money, which in turn increases property prices, which in turn "justifies" lending the money and so on. He discusses the role of central banks and their failure to address the problems of excessive credit creation. Current solutions to the crisis include allowing markets to sort out the problem themselves (the Great Depression route);encourage yet another huge debt-fuelled spending spree; or let inflation rip thereby debasing the outstanding stock of debt. The author argues for a more regular "hand on the tiller" approach, preventing excesses from appearing in the economy. Highly recommended.