
Why Shadow Banking Didn’t Cause the Financial Crisis
And Why Regulating Contagion Won’t Help
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed

Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Buy for $6.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Michael Lyons
About this listen
Most American adults easily recognize the following description of the 2008 financial crisis. Unregulated Wall Street firms (so-called shadow banks) made too many risky bets with derivatives, causing the housing bubble to burst. The contagious run through the financial system was only stopped by bailouts from the federal government and major regulatory changes. But what if the record demonstrates that the core of this story is misleading and that the resulting regulations are misguided?
Now, almost 15 years later, the Biden administration is using this same story to promote more regulations for money market mutual funds (a key part of the supposedly dangerous shadow banking system) and even to justify allowing only federally insured banks to issue stablecoins (a type of cryptocurrency that didn’t exist in 2008). But most of the post-2008 regulatory efforts were concentrated in the traditional banking sector—not the shadow banking sector—which warrants skepticism toward the conventional story of the 2008 crisis and any new regulations based on that story.
This book explores the main problems with the conventional story about the 2008 crisis and explains why it does not justify expanding bank-like regulations throughout financial markets to mitigate systemic risks.
©2022 Cato Institute (P)2023 Cato InstituteListeners also enjoyed...
-
Going Infinite
- The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon
- By: Michael Lewis
- Narrated by: Michael Lewis
- Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Michael Lewis first met him, Sam Bankman-Fried was the world’s youngest billionaire and crypto’s Gatsby. CEOs, celebrities, and leaders of small countries all vied for his time and cash after he catapulted, practically overnight, onto the Forbes billionaire list. Who was this rumpled guy in cargo shorts and limp white socks, whose eyes twitched across Zoom meetings as he played video games on the side?
-
-
really expected more rigor from Michael Lewis
- By Wowhello on 10-04-23
By: Michael Lewis
-
Social Justice Fallacies
- By: Thomas Sowell
- Narrated by: Brad Sanders
- Length: 6 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The quest for social justice is a powerful crusade of our time, with an appeal to many different people, for many different reasons. But those who use the same words do not always present the same meanings. Clarifying those meanings is the first step toward finding out what we agree on and disagree on. From there, it is largely a question of what the facts are. Social Justice Fallacies reveals how many things that are thought to be true simply cannot stand up to documented facts, which are often the opposite of what is widely believed.
-
-
Timely book by 93 year old Thomas Sowell
- By Wayne on 09-27-23
By: Thomas Sowell
-
Layered Money
- From Gold and Dollars to Bitcoin and Central Bank Digital Currencies
- By: Nik Bhatia
- Narrated by: Guy Swann
- Length: 4 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this fascinating deep dive into the evolution of monetary systems around the globe, Nik Bhatia takes us into the origins of how money has evolved to function in a “layered” manner. Using gold as an example of this term, he traces the layers of this ancient currency from raw mined material, to gold coins, and finally to bank-issued gold certificates. In a groundbreaking manner, Bhatia offers a similar paradigm for the evolution of digital currencies.
-
-
Stunningly biased. Reads like an ad for BTC
- By JD on 08-23-21
By: Nik Bhatia
-
In Pursuit of the Perfect Portfolio
- The Stories, Voices, and Key Insights of the Pioneers Who Shaped the Way We Invest
- By: Andrew W. Lo, Stephen R. Foerster
- Narrated by: BJ Harrison
- Length: 16 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Is there an ideal portfolio of investment assets, one that perfectly balances risk and reward? In Pursuit of the Perfect Portfolio examines this question by profiling and interviewing ten of the most prominent figures in the finance world—Jack Bogle, Charley Ellis, Gene Fama, Marty Leibowitz, Harry Markowitz, Bob Merton, Myron Scholes, Bill Sharpe, Bob Shiller, and Jeremy Siegel. We learn about the personal and intellectual journeys of these luminaries and their most innovative contributions. In the process, we come to understand how the science of modern investing came to be.
-
-
OK, sort of slack, not penetrating insights
- By Philo on 03-07-22
By: Andrew W. Lo, and others
-
A Brief History of Central Banking
- How the Quest for Financial Stability Led to Unconventional Monetary Practices
- By: Dominic Haynes
- Narrated by: Jeff Bower
- Length: 5 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether you’re looking to deepen your knowledge of complex banking practices, better understand the history of international finance, or simply learn more about central banking as it relates to your everyday life, this book will give you a comprehensive introduction and solid foundation for future study.
-
-
2 weird mistakes
- By RLake on 04-18-25
By: Dominic Haynes
-
Aftermath
- Seven Secrets of Wealth Preservation in the Coming Chaos
- By: James Rickards
- Narrated by: James Rickards
- Length: 10 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What goes up, must come down. As any student of financial history knows, the dizzying heights of the stock market can't continue indefinitely - especially since asset prices have been artificially inflated by investor optimism around the Trump administration, ruinously low interest rates, and the infiltration of behavioral economics into our financial lives. The elites are prepared, but what's the average investor to do?
-
-
Same old Jim
- By Phoenician on 07-27-19
By: James Rickards
-
Going Infinite
- The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon
- By: Michael Lewis
- Narrated by: Michael Lewis
- Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Michael Lewis first met him, Sam Bankman-Fried was the world’s youngest billionaire and crypto’s Gatsby. CEOs, celebrities, and leaders of small countries all vied for his time and cash after he catapulted, practically overnight, onto the Forbes billionaire list. Who was this rumpled guy in cargo shorts and limp white socks, whose eyes twitched across Zoom meetings as he played video games on the side?
-
-
really expected more rigor from Michael Lewis
- By Wowhello on 10-04-23
By: Michael Lewis
-
Social Justice Fallacies
- By: Thomas Sowell
- Narrated by: Brad Sanders
- Length: 6 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The quest for social justice is a powerful crusade of our time, with an appeal to many different people, for many different reasons. But those who use the same words do not always present the same meanings. Clarifying those meanings is the first step toward finding out what we agree on and disagree on. From there, it is largely a question of what the facts are. Social Justice Fallacies reveals how many things that are thought to be true simply cannot stand up to documented facts, which are often the opposite of what is widely believed.
-
-
Timely book by 93 year old Thomas Sowell
- By Wayne on 09-27-23
By: Thomas Sowell
-
Layered Money
- From Gold and Dollars to Bitcoin and Central Bank Digital Currencies
- By: Nik Bhatia
- Narrated by: Guy Swann
- Length: 4 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this fascinating deep dive into the evolution of monetary systems around the globe, Nik Bhatia takes us into the origins of how money has evolved to function in a “layered” manner. Using gold as an example of this term, he traces the layers of this ancient currency from raw mined material, to gold coins, and finally to bank-issued gold certificates. In a groundbreaking manner, Bhatia offers a similar paradigm for the evolution of digital currencies.
-
-
Stunningly biased. Reads like an ad for BTC
- By JD on 08-23-21
By: Nik Bhatia
-
In Pursuit of the Perfect Portfolio
- The Stories, Voices, and Key Insights of the Pioneers Who Shaped the Way We Invest
- By: Andrew W. Lo, Stephen R. Foerster
- Narrated by: BJ Harrison
- Length: 16 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Is there an ideal portfolio of investment assets, one that perfectly balances risk and reward? In Pursuit of the Perfect Portfolio examines this question by profiling and interviewing ten of the most prominent figures in the finance world—Jack Bogle, Charley Ellis, Gene Fama, Marty Leibowitz, Harry Markowitz, Bob Merton, Myron Scholes, Bill Sharpe, Bob Shiller, and Jeremy Siegel. We learn about the personal and intellectual journeys of these luminaries and their most innovative contributions. In the process, we come to understand how the science of modern investing came to be.
-
-
OK, sort of slack, not penetrating insights
- By Philo on 03-07-22
By: Andrew W. Lo, and others
-
A Brief History of Central Banking
- How the Quest for Financial Stability Led to Unconventional Monetary Practices
- By: Dominic Haynes
- Narrated by: Jeff Bower
- Length: 5 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether you’re looking to deepen your knowledge of complex banking practices, better understand the history of international finance, or simply learn more about central banking as it relates to your everyday life, this book will give you a comprehensive introduction and solid foundation for future study.
-
-
2 weird mistakes
- By RLake on 04-18-25
By: Dominic Haynes
-
Aftermath
- Seven Secrets of Wealth Preservation in the Coming Chaos
- By: James Rickards
- Narrated by: James Rickards
- Length: 10 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What goes up, must come down. As any student of financial history knows, the dizzying heights of the stock market can't continue indefinitely - especially since asset prices have been artificially inflated by investor optimism around the Trump administration, ruinously low interest rates, and the infiltration of behavioral economics into our financial lives. The elites are prepared, but what's the average investor to do?
-
-
Same old Jim
- By Phoenician on 07-27-19
By: James Rickards
-
The Death of Money
- The Coming Collapse of the International Monetary System
- By: James Rickards
- Narrated by: Sean Pratt
- Length: 13 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The international monetary system has collapsed three times in the past hundred years, in 1914, 1939, and 1971. Each collapse was followed by a period of tumult: War, civil unrest, or significant damage to the stability of the global economy. Now James Rickards, the acclaimed author of Currency Wars, shows why another collapse is rapidly approaching - and why this time, nothing less than the institution of money itself is at risk.
-
-
A good review of the global financial system
- By Jean on 04-22-14
By: James Rickards
-
Principles for Navigating Big Debt Crises
- By: Ray Dalio
- Narrated by: Stephen Graybill
- Length: 16 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As he explained in his #1 New York Times bestseller Principles, Ray Dalio believes that most everything happens over and over again through time so that by studying patterns one can understand the cause-effect relationships behind events and develop principles for dealing with them well. In this three-part research series, he does just that for big debt crises and shares his template in the hopes of reducing the chances of big debt crises happening and helping them be better managed in the future.
-
-
Interesting book
- By Mark on 02-06-23
By: Ray Dalio
-
The New Case for Gold
- By: James Rickards
- Narrated by: James Rickards
- Length: 4 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
They say John Maynard Keynes called gold a "barbarous relic." They say there isn’t enough gold to support finance and commerce. They say the gold supply can’t increase fast enough to support world growth. They’re wrong. In this bold manifesto, best-selling author and economic commentator James Rickards steps forward to defend gold — as both an irreplaceable store of wealth and a standard for currency.
-
-
Buy an ounce of Silver instead of this Book.
- By C. Lynch II on 05-09-16
By: James Rickards
-
99 Financial Terms Every Beginner, Entrepreneur & Business Should Know
- The Simple Guide to Financial Literacy, Financial Intelligence & Independence, Financial Freedom & Peace.
- By: Thomas Herold
- Narrated by: William Bahl
- Length: 7 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whenever you hear someone speak personal finance, do you feel like you’re learning a foreign language? Do you feel lost when reading or hearing financial terminology from your bank, insurance, investment agent, or the IRS? You’re not alone! If you cannot comprehend basic financial concepts, such as interest compounding and financial risk diversification, you're paying higher transaction fees, you pile up unmanageable debts, and you also end up paying higher interest on loans.
-
-
Well-being and freedom starts
- By Perry on 06-11-19
By: Thomas Herold
-
Meltdown
- A Look at Why the Economy Tanked and Government Bailouts Will Make Things Worse
- By: Thomas E. Woods Jr.
- Narrated by: Alan Sklar
- Length: 6 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The media tells us that "deregulation" and "unfettered free markets" have wrecked our economy and will continue to make things worse without a heavy dose of federal regulation. But the real blame lies elsewhere. In Meltdown, best-selling author Thomas E. Woods, Jr., unearths the real causes behind the collapse of housing values and the stock market---and it turns out the culprits reside more in Washington than on Wall Street.
-
-
...A Must Read!
- By Thomas on 03-04-09
-
The Complete Financial History of Berkshire Hathaway
- A Chronological Analysis of Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger's Conglomerate Masterpiece
- By: Adam J. Mead
- Narrated by: John Bradford
- Length: 22 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For the first time the complete financial history of Berkshire Hathaway is available under one cover in chronological format. Beginning at the origins of the predecessor companies in the textile industry, the listener can examine the development of the modern-day conglomerate year-by-year and decade-by-decade, watching as the struggling textile company morphs into what it has become today. The structure of the book allows the new student to follow the logic, reasoning, and capital allocation decisions made by Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger from the very beginning.
-
-
Complete Berkshire Financial History
- By T. Eller on 06-06-21
By: Adam J. Mead
-
The Bankers' New Clothes
- By: Anat Admat, Martin Hellwig
- Narrated by: Eva Wilhelm
- Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What is wrong with today's banking system? The past few years have shown that risks in banking can impose significant costs on the economy. Many claim, however, that a safer banking system would require sacrificing lending and economic growth. The Bankers' New Clothes examines this claim and the narratives used by bankers, politicians, and regulators to rationalize the lack of reform, exposing them as invalid.
-
-
Connecting many dots, but urges a particular view
- By Philo on 05-17-13
By: Anat Admat, and others
-
Manias, Panics, and Crashes (Seventh Edition)
- A History of Financial Crises
- By: Robert Z. Aliber, Charles P. Kindleberger
- Narrated by: Alister Austin
- Length: 19 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Manias, Panics, and Crashes is a scholarly and entertaining account of the way that mismanagement of money and credit has led to financial explosions over the centuries. This seventh edition of an investment classic has been thoroughly revised and expanded following the latest crises to hit international markets. Renowned economist Robert Z. Aliber introduces the concept that global financial crises in recent years are not independent events, but symptomatic of an inherent instability in the international system.
-
-
Lack of theoretical underpinning
- By Dr. Terence M. Dwyer on 09-20-21
By: Robert Z. Aliber, and others
-
Crisis Economics
- A Crash Course in the Future of Finance
- By: Nouriel Roubini, Stephen Mihm
- Narrated by: L. J. Ganser
- Length: 13 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This myth shattering book reveals the methods Nouriel Roubini used to foretell the current crisis before other economists saw it coming and shows how those methods can help us make sense of the present and prepare for the future. Renowned economist Nouriel Roubini electrified his profession and the larger financial community by predicting the current crisis well in advance of anyone else.
-
-
Boring, Couldn't Finish It
- By Jonnie on 08-29-10
By: Nouriel Roubini, and others
-
How Markets Fail
- The Logic of Economic Calamities
- By: John Cassidy
- Narrated by: Ralph Cosham
- Length: 13 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Behind the alarming headlines about job losses, bank bailouts, and corporate greed, there is a little-known story of bad ideas. For 50 years or more, economists have been busy developing elegant theories of how markets work - how they facilitate innovation, wealth creation, and an efficient allocation of society's resources. But what about when markets don't work?
-
-
Three books in one.
- By Donald on 02-13-10
By: John Cassidy
-
The Fed Unbound
- Central Banking in a Time of Crisis
- By: Lev Menand
- Narrated by: Mark Deakins
- Length: 3 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Federal Reserve, the U.S. central bank, was built for a monetary system composed primarily of investor-owned, government-chartered banks. But over the years, the erosion of banking law and the rise of alternative forms of money created outside of the banking system have pushed the Fed to take on more and more responsibilities to keep the economy out of recession, as it did during the 2008 crisis, and again during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, when it created $3 trillion to stop another financial panic.
-
-
Must read for people wanting to understand how the financial system works
- By Matthew Haddad on 07-17-22
By: Lev Menand
-
The Money Bubble
- By: James Turk, John Rubino
- Narrated by: Larry Wayne
- Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Turk and Rubino are back to say that history is about to repeat. Instead of addressing the causes of the 2008 financial crisis, the world's governments have continued along the same path, accumulating even more debt and inflating even bigger financial bubbles. So another - even bigger - crisis is coming.
-
-
Best book explaining the present financial chaos.
- By james wiitala on 02-09-15
By: James Turk, and others
I think the author could have done more to address the concerns of those who argue for regulation more targeted at protecting and alleviating real human investors who were wiped out by opaque financial vehicles that they were assured were safe.
The arguments of those more generally concerned with regulation to protect the soundness of the financial system were well addressed and thoroughly examined and rebutted, but this former class less so.
Overall very worth reading. Audio is perhaps not the best format for SOME readers due to the highly technical nature of the material that may require more intense focus, review, and analysis.
Written and performed very well with no errors, mispronunciations, or other issues. Very articulate and scholarly, though this would qualify as dry to some. Highly recommended for those interested in the topic.
Articulate and informative
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Excellent, but dry, information
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.