The morally hazardous business cycle
“‘Capitalism,’ Schumpeter wrote, ‘is by nature a form or method of economic change and not only never is but never can be stationary … This process of Creative Destruction is the essential fact about capitalism”. In the article below William Keegan looks at this process of creative destruction and relates it to the current financial crisis and the downturn in the business cycle.
Moral hazard? It’s just another danger along the capitalist way Guardian (5/10/08)
Time To Drop The Baggage That Comes With Moral Hazard Financial Times (4/10/08)
Questions
| 1. | Explain what is meant by the term ‘Creative Destruction’. |
| 2. | Explain what is meant by the term ‘Moral Hazard’. |
| 3. | “In theory, enlightened economic policies can moderate the workings of the business cycle”. Discuss possible policies that can moderate the workings of the business cycle. |
| 4. | Discuss the extent to which the recent economic boom was an ‘asset-price boom’ rather than a ‘traditional one’. |