The authors argue clearly and convincingly in this book that the debt
crisis which has plagued the world economy for the past ten years is due
to the inherent fragility of financial markets. Governments, financial
institutions and borrowers, including developing countries, have simply
expected too much from these markets. In a world of volatile interest
rates, exchange rates and uncertain government policy, it is virtually
impossible for financial institutions to effectively distinguish
fundamental shifts in economic activity from random shocks.