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Money, Finance and the Real Economy
Book

Money, Finance and the Real Economy

What Went Wrong?

CEPS, 2015 more...


Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Comprehensive
  • Analytical
  • Innovative

Recommendation

Economic reports can be dry, pedantic affairs, but this text from economists Anton Brender, Florence Pisani and Emile Gagna reads more like a mainstream book – a whodunit that unravels the reasons behind the stagnant aftermath of the 2008 crisis. The authors cleanly and concisely discuss some big economic policy issues, particularly the important role of financial systems in developed economies. Their description of how risks circulate and spread is especially noteworthy, as is their explanation of how risk-averse savers helped create a risk-hungry – and by 2008, fragile – shadow banking sector. However, their main conclusion – that the world has failed to organize the investments required to absorb surplus global savings – elegantly ties together the seeming paradox of expanding asset bubbles and stifled economic growth. While the general reader may find this a challenging read, getAbstract believes that those with some understanding of economics can gain a great deal of new perspective from it.

Take-Aways

  • Money is not just a “veil” over the real economy; a lack of cash in circulation causes slumps.
  • Monetary policy affects household borrowing more than business investment behavior.
  • The relationship between interest rate policy and investment is tricky, since long-term investment commitments can outlive short-term changes in policy direction.

About the Authors

Anton Brender, Florence Pisani and Emile Gagna are economists with Candriam Investors Group, a New York Life Company.


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