Articles
Articles and analyses from the INET community on the key economic questions of our time.

America’s Debt-Ceiling Debacle
When Greece’s sovereign-debt crisis threatened the euro’s survival, U.S. officials called their European counterparts to express bewilderment at their inability to resolve the issue.
What is Economic Success?

Why Economics Needs Economic History
The current economic and financial crisis has given rise to a vigorous debate about the state of economics, and the training which graduate and undergraduates economics students are receiving. Importantly, among those arguing most strongly for a change in the way that young economists are trained are the ultimate employers of these students, in both the private and the public sector. Employers are increasingly complaining that young economists don’t understand how the financial system actually works, and are ill-prepared to think about appropriate policies at a time of crisis.

Five Years on from Lehman: The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same
Sadly, it is questionable whether the economy has really improved.
The End of 'Financialization'

Simon Johnson: The Problem of Too Big to Fail Is Even Bigger Than Before 2008
Simon Johnson, Professor at MIT and former chief economist of the IMF, calls for much higher capital requirements for big banks.

Did Capitalism Fail? Looking Back Five Years After Lehman
How could reputable ratings agencies – and investment banks – misjudge things so badly?
Europe: Is the Union over?

Bring on the Bubble: William Janeway on the Future of Green Technologies
Where will today’s innovation come from?

Saving Economics from the Economists - A Tribute to the Late Ronald Coase
The degree to which economics is isolated from the ordinary business of life is extraordinary and unfortunate.
Understanding Bank Liquidity
When Is the Time for Austerity?

Did Capitalism Fail? The Financial Crisis Five Years On
Did the global economic collapse in 2008 stem from structural failures in the capitalist system?

The Real Story of Detroit's Collapse
“How could Michigan officials possibly talk about cutting the average $19,000-a-year pension benefit for municipal workers while reaffirming their pledge of$283 million in taxpayer money to a professional hockey stadium?
Thirteen Ways to Split a Cake*

On the Link between Inequality, Credit, and Macroeconomic Crises
To what extant do existing mainstream models properly address issues such as heterogeneity and interactions, which are considered central ingredients to understand economic crises as emergent, endogenous phenomena.