Unless we understand what it is that leads to economic and financial instability, we cannot prescribe -- make policy -- to modify or eliminate it. Identifying a phenomenon is not enough; we need a theory that makes instability a normal result in our economy and gives us handles to control it.

Hyman Minsky

Categorized in : Needs Giving Normal

Stability leads to instability. The more stable things become and the longer things are stable, the more unstable they will be when the crisis hits.

stability unstable crisis

Success breeds a disregard of the possibility of failure. by Hyman Minsky

Success breeds a disregard of the possibility of failure.

disregard possibility

In a world of businessmen and financial intermediaries who aggressively seek profit, innovators will always outpace regulators; the authorities cannot prevent changes in the structure of portfolios from occurring. What they can do is keep the asset-equity ratio of banks within bounds by setting equity-absorption ratios for various types of assets. If the authorities constrain banks and are aware of the activities of fringe banks and other financial institutions, they are in a better position to attenuate the disruptive expansionary tendencies of our economy.

portfolios ratios world

If the authorities constrain banks and are aware of the activities of fringe banks and other financial institutions, they are in a better position to attenuate the disruptive expansionary tendencies of our economy.

financial politics political