financial crisis affecting the world's largest and deepest depression after year 30 of the last century, has all the economists in the world studying the phenomenon, defining causes the same, focusing according to their view of events and a bit trying to explain why they had not planned to come the gigantic problem, and did not alert their governments to avoid the collapse of what happened and what even failure to pass.
Much is said about the lack of proper government controls the banks and the financial system, or at least lack of coordination of different government agencies responsible for such control and also the obsolete claims of some of the existing rules that did not fit in as they modernized and globalized financial markets.
This laxity in controls, left open to private initiative and with it the speculators who took advantage of easy credit boom, which was fueled by low interest rates that prevailed in the U.S. and some developed countries for several years , thereby creating real estate speculation, and with it the mortgage meltdown is living the U.S..
Indeed, the problem is very complex. How markets operate and the way these are interrelated whole is difficult to explain. Most people do not know how to correlate the factors and elements of the global financial market and fail to fully understand, such as a mortgage problem in the U.S. come to affect an entire country like Finland, which had virtually declared bankruptcy and request a credit of U.S. $ 4.000 billion to Russia to avoid financial collapse, or understand how an event in the U.S. affect and even touches on almost all world stock exchanges.
So in any case, this article further on this matter, nor explain the different relationships between the micro and macroeconomic variables that are affecting the world financial crisis.
From a different perspective and can be an observer who specializes in economic issues, you may find another explanation for this debacle. I do not think it would be safe to say that this has to do largely with the culture of consumption and expenditure seized the developed world and especially the U.S. and has had its greatest expression in recent years during the presidency of GW Bush , both within government and enterprises and ordinary citizens.
the end of the U.S. Clinton Administration had a large fiscal surplus. From the GW Bush presidency and especially after 11/09/2002 the country began to spend much more than that allowed thus generating revenue deficit. The fiscal deficit has been financed in part by the issuance of bonds of the Federal Reserve, who have been placed on world markets, raising the U.S. debt is frankly worrisome levels. To date, the federal government's public debt is about $ 35 000 per capita in a country of 300 million people. If this is added the trade deficit, caused in large part by high oil prices, it is clear that this country is living far beyond their capabilities. While it is true that high debt is not the cause of the current financial crisis if it is a threatening sword hanging on future American economic recovery. Furthermore
local governments, who live mainly from property taxes, which increased significantly due to higher value than those purchased during the housing bubble grew and spent and bureaucratically ever had. They had the vision to save some of that revenue for difficult times and in many cases were higher in construction costs and unnecessary programs and luxury. Consequently, many local communities also borrowed significantly, with future income from property taxes which in theory were growing significantly, endangering local economies, but even though tax collections downgraded to the extent that property prices have fallen.
Also some companies and financial institutions, largely motivated by pressure from Wall Street, speculation on the appreciation of the actions and incentives to its senior executives, fell into the trap of short-term strategies to achieve results immediately, sacrificing the financial strength of its institutions and its permanence in the long term. This has been evident in the recent collapses of Enron, Brohters Lehman, Merrill Lynch, AIG, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
And what about the ordinary citizen. According to the Federal Reserve 43% of North Americans spend more than they earn and the average debt per household rose from 80% of its revenues in 1986 to 140% today. So for every dollar received by an average American spends $ 1.40.
This behavior is reflected in the foreclosure crisis, caused in large part because many families bought houses much higher values \u200b\u200bthan their economic, intoxicated by cheap credit and ease that gave the builders, but without considering the consequences the long term. It was evident that the prices achieved for an average household for an average family were beyond their means.
This expenditure behavior is also reflected in the case of car buying. In recent years it was imposing the system of renting the vehicle for three years so we can change frequently and to be always trendy. The rented vehicle system turned what was the purchase of a durable consumer good. Fashion has long been large vehicles and high fuel consumption. The widespread use of high-powered vehicles for use in cities and highways, was a big waste of energy and investment. In this way the cost of transport is significantly increased without allowing the creation of a family heritage that somehow achieved with the traditional system of buying a vehicle.
And the above is compounded by the phenomenon of credit cards. Available to virtually everyone. According to statistics every American has an average of 7 credit cards. High quotas, with very low fees and interest monthly payment soaring almost 20% annually. This coupled with a culture of waste, to change to change, just for the sake of having the latest model, either in costume or on phones, or electronics. The quotas provided by the credit card irresponsibly opened in credit to many people unable to pay and raised over indebtedness of families all across the nation. Now we are seeing the consequences as they grow older cases of people who file for bankruptcy.
the foregoing several years this country has spent more than it produces, the level of federal, state, local, some large enterprises and ordinary citizens.
Now begins the era of lean. While the solution comes from the unprecedented measures being taken by the federal government will have to be accompanied by savings, caution in borrowing and efficiency in government. The ordinary citizen must learn to live with the possibilities that income family.
There is no doubt that the great engine of capitalist economies is consumption and to the extent that this rebate will be harder economic recovery. But there is much distance between the responsible consumption that marks the development and waste. The waste creates waste of goods and services. Destroys wealth, which still serves obsoletiza and does not create a culture of savings and capitalization. What this country recently experienced was a time of waste. Splurge
brought high debt, debt that the average citizen was not able to pay when the conditions changed, creating the financial earthquake that is living. Will
then come a time savings, preserve assets and prudential borrowing. Each family and each community will have to adapt to live according to their means. This correction, which involves education and responsibility, which requires the capitalist world and its financial system to be able to lift again. Jorge Pineda
Miami, FL 11/04/2008
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