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- Wiley
More About This Title Dinosaur Derivatives And Other Trades
English
Dinosaur Derivatives and Other Trades is an entertaining and compelling tour de force highlighting the paradoxes inherent to the modern financial system. Presented as a series of striking case studies, this book explores certain enigmatic or philosophical puzzles in the finance industry; some of these puzzles may seem slightly absurd at first glance, but all are very relevant to the way finance is conducted in the real world. Each story highlights specific hypocrisies or moral dilemmas that lie at the heart of the system, guiding readers through the challenges of finance by way of innovative and memorable paradigms. Written in clear, accessible language, this book doesn't claim to offer original financial theory or philosophy as such, but instead deepens the reader's understanding of the system and stimulates independent consideration of the current state of affairs.
The financial world, so often viewed as a rather dull place, is secretly alive with possibilities of strange and sometimes wonderful conundrums. There is the possibility, for instance, of a Manhattan auction house selling derivatives to buy swift-swimming predators known as Megalodons (thought to be extinct for millions of years). This book explores this and other curious propositions to point out the paradoxes of finance.
- Explore the meaning of "value" in different contexts
- Learn what the Old Testament can teach us about risk and uncertainty
- Examine an alternative take on the 2007/2008 credit crisis
- Consider how the "financial innovation" trend impacts the industry
To truly understand something, it is necessary to crawl deep into the metaphorical underbelly and have a look around. Dinosaur Derivatives and Other Trades provides the itinerary, and the insightful discussion that stimulates curiosity.
English
English
About the Author ix
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction xiii
1 What is Value? Dinosaur Derivatives 1
2 What is Uncertainty? Joseph’s Dreams 17
3 What is a Contract? 2,4,6,8 . . . 31
4 What is a Financial Instrument? A Legal Fiction 45
5 What is Financial Innovation? Railroads and the Credit Crisis 59
6 What is Ownership? Faust 75
7 What is Money? Cyber Cash 89
8 What is Taxation? Better than Theft 109
9 What is Fraud? When We Meet the Bad 121
10 What is Regulation? Antique Maps 141
11 What is a Bankrupt? A Financial Institution 157
Epilogue 175
End Notes 183
Index 191
English
“ This book is a rare beast, merging the seemingly disparate topics of finance and philosophy..” (Journal of Economics, June 2015)
