Financial Literacy: Wall Street and How it Works

The financial sector is a mysterious part of the global economy, shrouded in ambiguity for those who aren’t in it. Yet it is a behemoth that has grown to overshadow other economic sectors, such as manufacturing and agriculture, and it therefore demands our careful attention. Financial Literacy looks closely at the roots and effects of the financial sector. Many books concentrate on what is wrong with the system, but they fail to give us a firm grasp of why its turmoil started in the first place. Nor is it all that helpful to blame everything on the bankers. Author, educator Dr. Denise Ames, feels we need to dig deeper.

Financial Literacy presents a clear, holistic examination of the inner workings of the financial sector, laying the groundwork for understanding the crises it has played a role in. With this clearer understanding, we will be better equipped to critique the financial sector, see its fault lines, and propose workable solutions.

This book is for adult learners, educators, and students from grade nine through university. Each chapter includes “Questions to Consider,” spurring critical thinking and encouraging readers to “see” the information from perspectives beyond their own. Pictures, activities, suggestions, images, diagrams, graphs, and free on-line resources all heighten understanding.

Chapter Summaries

Chapter 1. The Financial Sector: An Overview
After a short overview of the financial sector, a description of the five sectors of the economy is given. Definitions of different forms of capitalism help explain the financial sector. Addressed in the chapter is why the financial sector has become such a dominant segment of the economy. Recklessness, as a master national narrative, helps explain the philosophy surrounding the rise of the financial sector.

Chapter 2. Financial Crises
Patterns of financial crises are laid out in this chapter. Descriptions of different financial crises are presented beginning with “Tulip Mania” in the Netherlands in the 1770s, highlighting the Stock Market Crash of 1929, and discussing several post-1970s bubbles including the dot com bubble, Japan’s asset price bubble in the 1980s, the East Asian bubble in the 1990s, and the bubble in Argentina in 1999-2001.

Chapter 3. Ten Fatal Flaws in the Financial Sector: Part I
Ten flaws, as seen by the author, are presented and analyzed in chapters three and four. Five of the ten flaws in this chapter include too big to fail banks (TBTF), unchecked deregulation, a “market knows best” Federal Reserve, a real estate bubble and out-of-control lending, and mountains of debt.

Chapter 4. Ten Fatal Flaws in the Financial Sector: Part II
The final five flaws are presented and analyzed in this chapter. They include dicey financial products, financial speculative mania, moral hazard and lack of transparency, deceptive rating agencies, and bloated compensation schemes.

Chapter 5. The Financial Crisis of 2007-2008
The financial crisis is explained in some depth, beginning with the fall of the Lehman Brothers Investments in the fall of 2008. The events and actions taken to alleviate a complete economic meltdown are narrated and analyzed.

Chapter 6. The Aftermath of the 2008 Financial Crisis
This chapter explains the “New Normal” that came about after 2008, including the 5 Rs--revolt, restore, react, reform, and rebuild. Each of the 5 Rs is explained using examples, and special emphasis is placed on the fifth R, rebuild. The components of the rebuild agenda include emphasizing a small and local economy, challenging the consumer growth model, renewing public ownership, healing our planet, and changing our values.

Dr. Denise R. Ames, an educator with over 30 years teaching experience at secondary schools, universities, a community college, adult educational programs, and professional development workshops, brings a wealth of life experiences and cutting-edge research to her books and teaching. She is currently the founder and president of the Center for Global Awareness, a nonprofit organization that creates books and educational resources in the areas of world history, the global economy, global issues, and cross-cultural topics using a holistic approach, global perspective, and cross-cultural understanding. She has presented classes, workshops, and lectures locally, nationally, and internationally and is the author of five books. She currently resides in sunny Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.