Introduction: Scope and Contents

Abstract

As in previous crises, there is an ambitious, extensive, and heavy agenda of regulatory reform in parliaments, research circles, and government agencies. This book provides a comprehensive review of the analysis of finance, economics, and the law and economics that illuminates the past and current banking and financial regulations designed to prevent events such as the credit/dollar crisis and the global recession. The regulation of financial institutions and markets has occurred during financial crises and recessions. There is no theory and experience of financial regulation carefully applied to the credit/dollar crisis that orients parliaments and government agencies in designing new measures or changes in existing ones. The rush to regulation is largely motivated ad hoc by the existing official interpretation of what caused the financial crisis and what measures are required for its prevention. Academic and policy research typically follows regulation in an effort to provide rigorous analysis of policy and its effects on the functioning of the financial system.