

Jim Rickards | Can Complexity Science, Bayesian Inference Theory, and History Help Predict the Next Financial Crisis?
Mar 6, 2017
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1998 Financial Crisis and LTCM
- The 1998 crisis began with Thailand de-pegging its currency from the dollar, leading to contagion across Asia.
- The collapse of Long-Term Capital Management (LTCM), a hedge fund, nearly brought down global markets due to its massive leveraged derivatives positions.
Flawed Risk Models
- LTCM's use of Gaussian distribution (normal distribution) in its risk models was flawed, as market crises do not follow normal distributions.
- Market risks follow power curves, which have different dynamics than bell curves.
Repeal of Glass-Steagall
- The repeal of Glass-Steagall Act in 1999 allowed commercial banks to engage in risky investment banking activities, mirroring the 1920s.
- This deregulation contributed to the 2008 financial crisis, demonstrating a failure to learn from history.