On the Causes of the Current Crisis

While the low interest rates and abundance of savings amplified the result, it was bad lending that really created it. Bad lending is not only bad in itself but turns even good lending bad by increasing asset prices beyond their true value. Part of the job of regulating the value of money is regulating credit. Failing to do the latter is failing to do the former.

Whenever one hears of the profits of financial innovation the presumption should be someone is getting robbed and if you don't know who, it is probably you. There were no profits, only hidden future losses for the taxpayer to pick up. The innovation consists of fooling others and looting the treasury.