One year since the onset of the financial crisis, some signs of recovery have already taken hold. But is this financial meltdown really any different from crises of the past? "No", say economists Kenneth Rogoff and Carmen Reinhardt in their new book, "This Time Is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly".
Reinhardt and Rogoff combed through over eight centuries of global financial data and found cycles of boom and bust, of arrogance and ignorance in all continents over time.
They identified inflow of foreign debt, deregulation of markets, and short term debt as key indicators of a crisis looming.
Now you too can submit your own questions to Ken Rogoff and Carmen Reinhart here .
Quotes
"There's no doubt about it. I mean, the recurring theme is arrogance and ignorance: ignorance that this has happened before in other places, in other countries; and arrogance thinking we're special, this time is different."-Kenneth Rogoff, co-author of "This Time Is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly"
"When the going is good, interest rates low, you look good. You don't worry. Confidence is high. But, then, suddenly, confidence can evaporate. Something happened in the world, something happened to you, and boom."- Kenneth Rogoff, co-author of "This Time Is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly"
"More money has been lost because of the four words ‘This time is different’ than at the point of a gun."-Carmen Reinhart, co-author of "This Time Is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly"
Warm Up Questions
1. How is this recession different than other recessions? How is it the same?
2. What caused the financial crisis in the United States?
Discussion Questions
1. Kenneth Rogoff says that the effects of the financial meltdown can "influence a whole generation that's been through this" what do you think he means by this? Do you agree?
2. Does it surprise you that Rogoff and Reinhardt were calling attention to problems in the market in 2007? Why or why not?
3. Does seeing this crisis in a long historical context change your feeling about it? Explain your answer with details.
Additional Resources
