This renowned economic historian examines the similarities and differences between the great crises of the 1930s and the 2000s, in an integrated account of the experience of the US and Europe. Importantly, Eichengreen describes how the 'lessons' of the Great Depression shaped the policy response this time, for better and worse, and conversely, how the current recession will re-shape our understanding of the 1930s crisis.

• Introduction


• Castles in Spain Made Real


• Inflation's Shadow


• Children's Playroom


• Financialization with a Vengeance


• Flip That House


• Europe and the Euro


• The Crisis to End All Crises


• The J.P. Morgan of the South


• Shuttle Diplomacy


• Will America Topple Too?


• Largely Contained


• Out of the Shadows


• The Worst Financial Crisis Since 1933


• The Three B's


• New Deal


• Double Dip


• Preventing the Worst


• Unconventional Policy


• Weak Soup


• The Turn to Austerity


• The Euro Crisis


• Whatever It Takes


• Conclusion

Professor of Economics and Political Science, University of California-Berkeley