The Global Financial Crisis (GFC) of 2008 is widely recognised across the globe as the most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression. The prolonged global economic slow-down has stymied the US economy, brought the Eurozone to the precipice, and continues to retard growth momentum throughout the world. Even developing economies that were previously thought to be crisis-averse are now experiencing  the rough waters after an economic tsunami.

The writers in this compendium address the many complexities of the GFC and present a holistic overview of its background, how it unfolded and how many of the nations sought to respond to it. This publication is unique in its approach of the crisis from a global perspective, with pieces focussing on India, Europe and the United States. Furthermore, the book provides a thorough examination of the economic, political, environmental and social implications of the crisis and offers glimpses of the road ahead, replete with policy recommendations for a more stable and prosperous future.

Jayshree Sengupta is a Senior Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, Delhi, India. She was a consultant for World Bank (1985-1990) and OECD (Paris) (1991). She coauthored a book with Prof S. Sideri of ISS (Hague) on ‘The 1992 Single European Market and The Third World’ (Frank Cass, London, 1992). She was a lecturer at Miranda House and Indraprastha College (Delhi University) from 1970 to 1977. She has also served as the Programme Coordinator at Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) from 1981-1985. She studied at the London School of Economics where she completed MSc (Economics) and MPhil (Economics).