From Sub-Prime to Quasi-Nationalization: The Unique Elements of a Banking Crisis

Abstract

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its research has identified over 100 banking cycles in recent history, but the current turmoil is unique in its scope, magnitude, and likely impact on the real economy. This chapter will focus on data and graphics, rather than text, to highlight the key dimensions of the turmoil. The textual dimension has been — and will continue to be! — the subject of thousands of penetrating articles and books, and one picture is truly worth a thousand words! We also focus on the features which have made it unique in some 70 years of banking history.