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Can financial regulation avoid a new systemic crisis? | Georges Ugeux | TEDxYouth@LFNY


good afternoon and thank you for joining

good afternoon and thank you for joining after class

after class

after class I’m really impressed that any of you

I’m really impressed that any of you

I’m really impressed that any of you might have decided that financial

might have decided that financial

might have decided that financial regulation was really the reason why you

regulation was really the reason why you

regulation was really the reason why you were here

were here

were here so thank you very much and what I would

so thank you very much and what I would

so thank you very much and what I would like to say is that having gone through

like to say is that having gone through

like to say is that having gone through all the demise of the 2007 financial

all the demise of the 2007 financial

all the demise of the 2007 financial crisis the so-called Lehman crisis or

crisis the so-called Lehman crisis or

crisis the so-called Lehman crisis or the subprime loan crisis that I will

the subprime loan crisis that I will

the subprime loan crisis that I will talk about I have continued to be

talk about I have continued to be

talk about I have continued to be haunted by the idea that regulators are

haunted by the idea that regulators are

haunted by the idea that regulators are in fact curing the problems of the

in fact curing the problems of the

in fact curing the problems of the previous and I’ve been following all

previous and I’ve been following all

previous and I’ve been following all that transformation and I’m asking

that transformation and I’m asking

that transformation and I’m asking myself what’s next where will the next

myself what’s next where will the next

myself what’s next where will the next one come from under the which fall so

one come from under the which fall so

one come from under the which fall so what I’m going to try to do is because

what I’m going to try to do is because

what I’m going to try to do is because this is a pretty dry subject let’s face

this is a pretty dry subject let’s face

this is a pretty dry subject let’s face it I am going to try to walk you through

it I am going to try to walk you through

it I am going to try to walk you through a story and I’m going to use cartoons so

a story and I’m going to use cartoons so

a story and I’m going to use cartoons so you might have heard about this country

you might have heard about this country

you might have heard about this country Greece has become for Europe the epitome

Greece has become for Europe the epitome

Greece has become for Europe the epitome of the financial crisis it was a small

of the financial crisis it was a small

of the financial crisis it was a small problem it was a small crisis but it

problem it was a small crisis but it

problem it was a small crisis but it mobilized everybody and the governments

mobilized everybody and the governments

mobilized everybody and the governments didn’t know what to do with it so Greece

didn’t know what to do with it so Greece

didn’t know what to do with it so Greece had to be built out by the private

had to be built out by the private

had to be built out by the private sector and by the banks and today Greece

sector and by the banks and today Greece

sector and by the banks and today Greece is not even resolved we are still

is not even resolved we are still

is not even resolved we are still talking about the problem of Masoud

talking about the problem of Masoud

talking about the problem of Masoud tsipras we are still talking about what

tsipras we are still talking about what

tsipras we are still talking about what can Greece do to pay its next debt what

can Greece do to pay its next debt what

can Greece do to pay its next debt what will they do to get another run of

will they do to get another run of

will they do to get another run of austerity however while the European

austerity however while the European

austerity however while the European Commission is spending time there trying

Commission is spending time there trying

Commission is spending time there trying to support Greece there is a much bigger

to support Greece there is a much bigger

to support Greece there is a much bigger danger that danger is call Italy we are

danger that danger is call Italy we are

danger that danger is call Italy we are currently in a banking crisis in

currently in a banking crisis in

currently in a banking crisis in but more importantly the problem of

but more importantly the problem of

but more importantly the problem of Italy is five times the size of the

Italy is five times the size of the

Italy is five times the size of the problem of Greece we can’t afford the

problem of Greece we can’t afford the

problem of Greece we can’t afford the collapse of Italy but like the PISA

collapse of Italy but like the PISA

collapse of Italy but like the PISA tower Italy is going down almost

tower Italy is going down almost

tower Italy is going down almost inexorably interest rates have doubled

inexorably interest rates have doubled

inexorably interest rates have doubled so how ten years after the Lehman crisis

so how ten years after the Lehman crisis

so how ten years after the Lehman crisis I will still confront it with problems

I will still confront it with problems

I will still confront it with problems of financial regulation and financial

of financial regulation and financial

of financial regulation and financial stability it all started because in the

stability it all started because in the

stability it all started because in the golden years of the 90s where we all

golden years of the 90s where we all

golden years of the 90s where we all over spent and made too much money that

over spent and made too much money that

over spent and made too much money that everybody said the banks have become

everybody said the banks have become

everybody said the banks have become wise and therefore we don’t need

wise and therefore we don’t need

wise and therefore we don’t need regulation and one by one regulation

regulation and one by one regulation

regulation and one by one regulation went done the gentleman on top of this

went done the gentleman on top of this

went done the gentleman on top of this is actually Ben Bernanke the chairman of

is actually Ben Bernanke the chairman of

is actually Ben Bernanke the chairman of the Federal Reserve and he said in a

the Federal Reserve and he said in a

the Federal Reserve and he said in a famous sentence markets know better than

famous sentence markets know better than

famous sentence markets know better than regulators how to organize the granting

regulators how to organize the granting

regulators how to organize the granting of loans except that that was based on

of loans except that that was based on

of loans except that that was based on an optimistic view of what actually

an optimistic view of what actually

an optimistic view of what actually banks would do what they did is this

banks would do what they did is this

banks would do what they did is this they lied to their customers by telling

they lied to their customers by telling

they lied to their customers by telling them we have a fantastic solution for

them we have a fantastic solution for

them we have a fantastic solution for you

you

you you are going to get a loan that will

you are going to get a loan that will

you are going to get a loan that will allow you to buy a bigger house or to

allow you to buy a bigger house or to

allow you to buy a bigger house or to buy your first house it’s going to cost

buy your first house it’s going to cost

buy your first house it’s going to cost you 2% I was receiving in my mail

you 2% I was receiving in my mail

you 2% I was receiving in my mail incredible ideas about you are going to

incredible ideas about you are going to

incredible ideas about you are going to burrow in LIBOR

burrow in LIBOR

burrow in LIBOR how many US citizens know what the

how many US citizens know what the

how many US citizens know what the London interbank offered rate could be

London interbank offered rate could be

London interbank offered rate could be well they built it they bought it and

well they built it they bought it and

well they built it they bought it and two years later the rates were adjusted

two years later the rates were adjusted

two years later the rates were adjusted and they couldn’t pay and in the US you

and they couldn’t pay and in the US you

and they couldn’t pay and in the US you cannot renegotiate a loan why because

cannot renegotiate a loan why because

cannot renegotiate a loan why because the banks didn’t keep them Citibank JP

the banks didn’t keep them Citibank JP

the banks didn’t keep them Citibank JP Bank of America were granting new loans

Bank of America were granting new loans

Bank of America were granting new loans at 2% that ended up being loans at 7%

at 2% that ended up being loans at 7%

at 2% that ended up being loans at 7% but the loans had already been packaged

but the loans had already been packaged

but the loans had already been packaged into some hedge fund kind of products at

into some hedge fund kind of products at

into some hedge fund kind of products at the same time we were in a situation

the same time we were in a situation

the same time we were in a situation where they didn’t service the loans

where they didn’t service the loans

where they didn’t service the loans because they had sent a service contract

because they had sent a service contract

because they had sent a service contract to people who were doing that we even

to people who were doing that we even

to people who were doing that we even went to a situation where the tsunami of

went to a situation where the tsunami of

went to a situation where the tsunami of those prime loans destroyed the real

those prime loans destroyed the real

those prime loans destroyed the real estate market but more importantly

estate market but more importantly

estate market but more importantly destroyed the people and I keep thinking

destroyed the people and I keep thinking

destroyed the people and I keep thinking of the story of that single mother with

of the story of that single mother with

of the story of that single mother with three children who one day left the keys

three children who one day left the keys

three children who one day left the keys of a home and for six months lived in a

of a home and for six months lived in a

of a home and for six months lived in a car that is what has been created there

car that is what has been created there

car that is what has been created there that is where the foreclosure which

that is where the foreclosure which

that is where the foreclosure which means you give the key you don’t have

means you give the key you don’t have

means you give the key you don’t have any liabilities anymore

any liabilities anymore

any liabilities anymore but you’re lost you are forever

but you’re lost you are forever

but you’re lost you are forever considered to be a bad borrower so

considered to be a bad borrower so

considered to be a bad borrower so having gone through that the President

having gone through that the President

having gone through that the President of the United States Barack Obama the

of the United States Barack Obama the

of the United States Barack Obama the website having gone through that we

website having gone through that we

website having gone through that we arrived to a situation where the banks

arrived to a situation where the banks

arrived to a situation where the banks didn’t know how much each of them had

didn’t know how much each of them had

didn’t know how much each of them had and they stopped lending to each other

and they stopped lending to each other

and they stopped lending to each other which they do for trillions and they

which they do for trillions and they

which they do for trillions and they deposited that money in central banks

deposited that money in central banks

deposited that money in central banks but all of a sudden we were in a

but all of a sudden we were in a

but all of a sudden we were in a liquidity crisis what does that mean

liquidity crisis what does that mean

liquidity crisis what does that mean that means that nobody knew exactly the

that means that nobody knew exactly the

that means that nobody knew exactly the amplitude of the crisis and it was the

amplitude of the crisis and it was the

amplitude of the crisis and it was the panic and it was the panic of a

panic and it was the panic of a

panic and it was the panic of a particular weekend that I remember very

particular weekend that I remember very

particular weekend that I remember very well that single weekend on Friday

well that single weekend on Friday

well that single weekend on Friday aliens wanted to buy AIG who became

aliens wanted to buy AIG who became

aliens wanted to buy AIG who became bankrupt three days later because they

bankrupt three days later because they

bankrupt three days later because they refused marriage was sold to Bank of

refused marriage was sold to Bank of

refused marriage was sold to Bank of America and when Lehman was supposed to

America and when Lehman was supposed to

America and when Lehman was supposed to be bought by Barclays Bank the

be bought by Barclays Bank the

be bought by Barclays Bank the Chancellor of the Exchequer you might

Chancellor of the Exchequer you might

Chancellor of the Exchequer you might not know that it is actually the British

not know that it is actually the British

not know that it is actually the British nice or financed cold its US counterpart

nice or financed cold its US counterpart

nice or financed cold its US counterpart and see we are not going to bail America

and see we are not going to bail America

and see we are not going to bail America out of its bedrooms three of the largest

out of its bedrooms three of the largest

out of its bedrooms three of the largest institutions collapse in one weekend and

institutions collapse in one weekend and

institutions collapse in one weekend and President Obama who by the way was

President Obama who by the way was

President Obama who by the way was partly elected thanks to the we handle

partly elected thanks to the we handle

partly elected thanks to the we handle debt crisis told Congress that under no

debt crisis told Congress that under no

debt crisis told Congress that under no circumstance would taxpayer having to

circumstance would taxpayer having to

circumstance would taxpayer having to foot the bill and that now he wanted a

foot the bill and that now he wanted a

foot the bill and that now he wanted a regulation whereby the banks could

regulation whereby the banks could

regulation whereby the banks could actually resolve their own problem so

actually resolve their own problem so

actually resolve their own problem so needless to say what President Obama

needless to say what President Obama

needless to say what President Obama wanted to do was not totally at the

wanted to do was not totally at the

wanted to do was not totally at the taste of Wall Street and I remember

taste of Wall Street and I remember

taste of Wall Street and I remember Larry Summers that you might have heard

Larry Summers that you might have heard

Larry Summers that you might have heard about he was a secretary of the Treasury

about he was a secretary of the Treasury

about he was a secretary of the Treasury making a presentation saying now as

making a presentation saying now as

making a presentation saying now as regulators we will never assume that the

regulators we will never assume that the

regulators we will never assume that the bankers get it because they don’t we

bankers get it because they don’t we

bankers get it because they don’t we have been in crisis in 1966 every six

have been in crisis in 1966 every six

have been in crisis in 1966 every six years because of them now we have to

years because of them now we have to

years because of them now we have to frame them and that is how the financial

frame them and that is how the financial

frame them and that is how the financial system recovered until this guy came in

system recovered until this guy came in

system recovered until this guy came in you remember my great this is not a peep

you remember my great this is not a peep

you remember my great this is not a peep okay he came in with absolutely no idea

okay he came in with absolutely no idea

okay he came in with absolutely no idea what financial stability was with the

what financial stability was with the

what financial stability was with the assumption that banks were not prepared

assumption that banks were not prepared

assumption that banks were not prepared to lend money with the assumption that

to lend money with the assumption that

to lend money with the assumption that everybody was being cheated and that we

everybody was being cheated and that we

everybody was being cheated and that we had to let Wall Street so the market why

had to let Wall Street so the market why

had to let Wall Street so the market why not beautifully he was there and

not beautifully he was there and

not beautifully he was there and everybody said he has the recipe no more

everybody said he has the recipe no more

everybody said he has the recipe no more regulation except that the result of the

regulation except that the result of the

regulation except that the result of the situation was on the right side that

situation was on the right side that

situation was on the right side that over the last ten years the middle class

over the last ten years the middle class

over the last ten years the middle class had lost 40% of its wealth and one

had lost 40% of its wealth and one

had lost 40% of its wealth and one percent of the US population

percent of the US population

percent of the US population on 99% of the wealth doesn’t

on 99% of the wealth doesn’t

on 99% of the wealth doesn’t particularly care about that but what we

particularly care about that but what we

particularly care about that but what we are seeing happen is a situation where

are seeing happen is a situation where

are seeing happen is a situation where Goldman Sachs who by the way is

Goldman Sachs who by the way is

Goldman Sachs who by the way is everywhere there are at least five

everywhere there are at least five

everywhere there are at least five goldman sachs senior executives in the

goldman sachs senior executives in the

goldman sachs senior executives in the current administration Dolman Sachs said

current administration Dolman Sachs said

current administration Dolman Sachs said this is going to reduce the wealth of

this is going to reduce the wealth of

this is going to reduce the wealth of the bank’s by 250 billion they are not

the bank’s by 250 billion they are not

the bank’s by 250 billion they are not going to reduce their balance sheet so

going to reduce their balance sheet so

going to reduce their balance sheet so what is going to happen they will be

what is going to happen they will be

what is going to happen they will be weaker so we are going a road that we

weaker so we are going a road that we

weaker so we are going a road that we know is the road of the weakening of the

know is the road of the weakening of the

know is the road of the weakening of the financial sector and therefore what I’m

financial sector and therefore what I’m

financial sector and therefore what I’m trying to see here is that it is

trying to see here is that it is

trying to see here is that it is absolutely crucial that some resistance

absolutely crucial that some resistance

absolutely crucial that some resistance be met so that we keep the stability of

be met so that we keep the stability of

be met so that we keep the stability of the US banking especially because this

the US banking especially because this

the US banking especially because this is not about just the u.s. in Bothell

is not about just the u.s. in Bothell

is not about just the u.s. in Bothell some of you might have been in this

some of you might have been in this

some of you might have been in this lovely Swiss city they meet a record to

lovely Swiss city they meet a record to

lovely Swiss city they meet a record to try to stabilize the world but at the

try to stabilize the world but at the

try to stabilize the world but at the g20 the United States refused to sign a

g20 the United States refused to sign a

g20 the United States refused to sign a commitment to free trade so the world no

commitment to free trade so the world no

commitment to free trade so the world no longer knows whether it can count on the

longer knows whether it can count on the

longer knows whether it can count on the United States to continue maintaining

United States to continue maintaining

United States to continue maintaining financial stability and that is the

financial stability and that is the

financial stability and that is the biggest risk that we are seeing because

biggest risk that we are seeing because

biggest risk that we are seeing because those guys have been extraordinary

those guys have been extraordinary

those guys have been extraordinary rescuing the banking system over the

rescuing the banking system over the

rescuing the banking system over the last ten years by intervening those are

last ten years by intervening those are

last ten years by intervening those are the central bankers you have Janet

the central bankers you have Janet

the central bankers you have Janet Yellen from the Federal Reserve you have

Yellen from the Federal Reserve you have

Yellen from the Federal Reserve you have Mario Draghi

Mario Draghi

Mario Draghi from the European Central Bank and you

from the European Central Bank and you

from the European Central Bank and you have mr. Kuroda from the Bank of Japan

have mr. Kuroda from the Bank of Japan

have mr. Kuroda from the Bank of Japan together they have accumulated ten

together they have accumulated ten

together they have accumulated ten trillion dollars of additional assets

trillion dollars of additional assets

trillion dollars of additional assets which means they are ten trillion dollar

which means they are ten trillion dollar

which means they are ten trillion dollar less able to rescue the next crisis

less able to rescue the next crisis

less able to rescue the next crisis so we have the banks who are going to be

so we have the banks who are going to be

so we have the banks who are going to be deregulated the central banks who are

deregulated the central banks who are

deregulated the central banks who are less able to intervene but this is the

less able to intervene but this is the

less able to intervene but this is the most important message to you we have

most important message to you we have

most important message to you we have basically tried to resolve all our

basically tried to resolve all our

basically tried to resolve all our political and social problems by

political and social problems by

political and social problems by accumulating debt we are at a level

accumulating debt we are at a level

accumulating debt we are at a level where most of the countries have a debt

where most of the countries have a debt

where most of the countries have a debt that represent a hundred percent of what

that represent a hundred percent of what

that represent a hundred percent of what they earn in one year but more

they earn in one year but more

they earn in one year but more importantly and maybe that’s because I

importantly and maybe that’s because I

importantly and maybe that’s because I just got a new grandchild I would like

just got a new grandchild I would like

just got a new grandchild I would like to point you to the father and the two

to point you to the father and the two

to point you to the father and the two children saying someday this will be

children saying someday this will be

children saying someday this will be yours because it is yours you are

yours because it is yours you are

yours because it is yours you are entering a world where we our generation

entering a world where we our generation

entering a world where we our generation has basically wasted money created

has basically wasted money created

has basically wasted money created substantial climate problems and I have

substantial climate problems and I have

substantial climate problems and I have to tell you something you have to be

to tell you something you have to be

to tell you something you have to be fully awake so that we it doesn’t get

fully awake so that we it doesn’t get

fully awake so that we it doesn’t get worse and that measures are being taken

worse and that measures are being taken

worse and that measures are being taken because the politicians live on the

because the politicians live on the

because the politicians live on the four-year or five-year basis they don’t

four-year or five-year basis they don’t

four-year or five-year basis they don’t care about that

care about that

care about that for those who follow Chester day the

for those who follow Chester day the

for those who follow Chester day the presidential debate nobody talks about

presidential debate nobody talks about

presidential debate nobody talks about that this is the biggest threat at the

that this is the biggest threat at the

that this is the biggest threat at the moment and unless we have a serious

moment and unless we have a serious

moment and unless we have a serious reform of our society we will get very

reform of our society we will get very

reform of our society we will get very soon into either the Italian the Chinese

soon into either the Italian the Chinese

soon into either the Italian the Chinese or another systemic crisis and that’s

or another systemic crisis and that’s

or another systemic crisis and that’s what I want to avoid thank you very much

what I want to avoid thank you very much

what I want to avoid thank you very much [Applause]

”

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