Crashed

Adam Tooze

The 2008 financial crisis exposed deep systemic flaws and fueled widespread resentment, as those responsible for the collapse often avoided accountability and even received rewards, such as Wall Street's $18.4 billion in bonuses. Institutions like AIG epitomized this recklessness, failing to manage risks and later paying out massive bonuses despite catastrophic losses. The crisis devastated ordinary Americans, with millions losing homes and livelihoods, while sparking bipartisan anger over a system perceived as rigged for the elite. European banks, heavily entangled in risky U.S. mortgage securities, faced even greater vulnerabilities, leading to economic turmoil across the Eurozone and Eastern Europe, particularly in Ukraine, where geopolitical tensions escalated into conflict. The roots of the crisis stretched back decades, with deregulation and securitization creating a fragile financial system that collapsed when the U.S. housing market crashed. The global fallout was immense, crippling trade, employment, and financial centers like London, which struggled to recover amidst Brexit uncertainties. In the U.S., political discontent simmered until 2016, when voters rejected establishment candidates in favor of figures like Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump, whose campaigns channeled frustrations over inequality and economic instability. However, the policies that followed largely favored the wealthy, leaving unresolved tensions that continue to shape the political and economic landscape.

15 min

9 Bite

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De quoi s'agit-il ?

The book delves into the far-reaching consequences of the 2008 financial crisis, unraveling how it exposed systemic flaws, deepened economic divides, and reshaped global politics. It examines the reckless practices that led to the collapse, the controversial bailouts that followed, and the public outrage that fueled movements across the political spectrum. From Wall Street to Europe, and from Brexit to Ukraine, the narrative explores the interconnected crises that emerged, offering a gripping look at how economic turmoil continues to shape our world.

Résumé du livre

British historian Adam Tooze is a professor and the director of the European Institute at Columbia University, New York. His previous books include the Wolfson History Prize-winning The Wages of Destruction (2006), a study of Nazi Germany’s economic policies, and The Great Deluge (2014), an analysis of the Great War and the creation of a new international order.

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Toutes les bouchées

9 Bites

Roots of Risk: How 2008 Shattered Finance

European Banks and the Fallout of Risk

When Markets Crumbled: The 2008 Fallout

IMF's Role in Europe's Debt Turmoil

Ukraine's Crossroads: Economic Struggles and Geopolitical Tensions

London's Fall: From Financial Titan to Uncertainty

Brexit Unveiled: The Roots of Departure

How the 2008 Crash Rigged the System

When Frustration Ignites: The Fallout of 2008

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