This is the first detailed study of how Bernard L. Madoff and his accomplices perpetrated a Ponzi scheme of epic proportions-what has been referred to as the "con of the century." In December 2008, Bernard L. Madoff was arrested for perpetrating a protracted Ponzi scheme of inconceivably huge proportions that defrauded clients of his securities company of nearly $20 billion-and was consequently sentenced to 150 years in jail. How did Madoff pull this off for years, even returning some or all of clients' money when they asked, while in actuality was financing the lavish lifestyles of himself, his family, and his accomplices with the stolen funds? And why didn't anyone in the highly regulated investment industry catch on sooner? Bernard Madoff and His Accomplices: Anatomy of a Con examines Bernard L. Madoff's unprecedented confidence game (con game), drawing back the curtain on what actually went on at his investment firm, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities, and exposing the day-to-day activities of his accomplices that enabled the elaborate con to succeed for as long as it did. Through the examination of court testimony and other court documents, the mechanics of the con game become clear, elucidating how Madoff's friends and employees hustled money from investors; the methods by which false records, monthly statements to investors, and other documents were manufactured and mass-produced; and how a multitude of felonies and the highest levels of fraud became everyday practices. Presents the first study of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities, the organization where the fraud began, was centered, and flourished by duping investors for at least a decade Documents how investors who depend on and trust investment professionals can lose money, especially given that some investment companies do not always act in their clients' best interests and that Wall Street regulators are often ineffective Takes readers backstage to see the intricate details of the "theatre production" of a con game-the playacting, performances, pretending, utilization of props, and false representations that are required to achieve a "standing ovation" (i.e., the total fleecing of the marks)

When just a handful of economists predicted the 2008 financial crisis, people should wonder how so many well educated people with enormous datasets and computing power can be so wrong. In this short book Ionut Purica joins a growing number of economists who explore the failings of mainstream economics and propose solutions developed in other disciplines, such as sociology and evolutionary biology. While it might be premature to call for a revolution, Dr. Purica echoes John Maynard Keynes in believing that economic ideas are "dangerous for good or evil." In recent years evil seems to have had the upper hand. "Nonlinear Dynamics of Financial Crises" points to their ability to do good.

In 1918, the Soviet revolutionary government repudiated the Tsarist regime's sovereign debt, triggering one of the biggest sovereign defaults ever. Yet the price of Russian bonds remained high for years. Combing French archival records, Kim Oosterlinck shows that, far from irrational, investors had legitimate reasons to hope for repayment. Soviet debt recognition, a change in government, a bailout by the French government, or French banks, or a seceding country would have guaranteed at least a partial reimbursement. As Greece and other European countries raise the possibility of sovereign default, Oosterlinck's superbly researched study is more urgent than ever.

Using a framework of volatile markets Emerging Market Bank Lending and Credit Risk Control covers the theoretical and practical foundations of contemporary credit risk with implications for bank management. Drawing a direct connection between risk and its effects on credit analysis and decisions, the book discusses how credit risk should be correctly anticipated and its impact mitigated within framework of sound credit culture and process in line with the Basel Accords. This is the only practical book that specifically guides bankers through the analysis and management of the peculiar credit risks of counterparties in emerging economies. Each chapter features a one-page overview that introduces its subject and its outcomes. Chapters include summaries, review questions, references, and endnotes.

The history of customs duties reflects the development of the Qing fiscal system, especially in its transition from a rather traditional to a more modern economy. Mainly based on Qing archives, this book, the first research monograph on this subject in the English language, not only gives a brief introduction of each customs post's transformation over time, but also provides the complete statistical data of each of these post over the Qing dynasty. Contributors are: Bas van Leeuwen, Bozhong Li, Maaten Duijvendak, Martin Uebele, Peter Foldvari, Yi Xu.

Tettered Money: Managing Digital Currency Transactions presents a comprehensive discussion of financial transactions using digital currencies, with the author, Gideon Samid, making the case for their expansion in tethered money. Exploring the technical, legal, and historical aspects of digital money, the author discusses how the emerging technology of money specified for a specific need or to perform a particular task will affect society. The ability to dictate, Samid argues, how money is spent could increase control over our lives and resources, enabling us to practice a certain efficiency that would, in due time, become a pillar of civilization. Informative and thought-provoking, the book describes an evolving future that, in some quarters, has already arrived.

This is the autobiographical story of David Freud's accidental career in the City and how, after a bruising 20 years, he emerged as one of the most successful investment bankers of his generation. This is the inside story of some of the most interesting and controversial mega-deals of the period. He stayed at the sharp end of the business through his 20 year stint - conducting transactions in no fewer than 19 countries. Written with pace, humour and insight David Freud's lively account of his work and life in the City is as accessible to interested outsiders as it to those who have work there.

As more and more emerging markets seek to compete in an ever-growing pool of global competitors, rapidly growing economies are consistently running into issues relating to the proper understanding of fiscal markets. The future of global economics depends on the wellbeing of sustainable economic growth and the expansion of banking systems. Emerging Research on Monetary Policy, Banking, and Financial Markets is an essential reference source that discusses the complex nature of financial markets and the growth of developing economies. Featuring research on topics such as international markets, transition economies, and financial instability, this book is ideally designed for academicians, students, researchers, policymakers, professionals, financial analysts, and economists interested in the future of reformed worldwide banking systems.

Many students want an introduction to finance. Those who are quantitatively-oriented learners can benefit in particular from an introduction that puts more emphasis on mathematics and graphical presentations than on verbal descriptions. By illustrating core finance facts and concepts through equations and graphical material, Finance: A Quantitative Introduction can help people studying business management, marketing, accounting, and other subjects. By using few lengthy verbal explanations and many illustrations, it can teach readers quickly and efficiently.

If you've ever thought about succession planning and avoided it because it seemed too complex and daunting, this book is for you. If you're a business owner who has never thought about succession planning, this book is for you. This book is designed to be a primer, an overview of succession planning, written in language that you can understand. It will help you navigate the process of developing an effective succession plan for your business. In other words, it will help you pass the torch without getting scorched. I've had a lot of experience with succession planning and the consequences of the absence of a succession plan, and I know first-hand how critical is the need for effective succession planning for any business, large or small. My goal is to demystify this topic and present you, the reader, with basic concepts that will remove your fears and replace them with a solid platform for the legacy you wish to pass on to the next generation.