Financing Opportunity: How Financial Markets Have Fueled American Prosperity for More than Two Centuries

Financial markets have fueled American prosperity for more than two centuries, so why are they often distrusted and criticized as harmful?

The United States has had robust financial markets practically from the date the nation was founded. Within several years of ratifying the Constitution, the depth and breadth of America's banking and securities markets rivaled those of any other developed nation. And that's a good thing.

America's financial system is inseparable from America's enormous growth, productivity, and prosperity. And while it's become popular to lay a host of ills at the feet of financial markets, markets are not themselves the cause of financial instability, income stagnation, or declining investment in productive endeavors. While our system is not perfect, many people would likely be shocked to learn just how many financial market deficiencies have been caused by harmful government policies.

By providing historical context and a thorough yet easily accessible explanation of US financial markets, authors Norbert Michel and Jennifer Schulp provide a much-needed counterpoint to current debates and criticisms. Financing Opportunity not only busts many popular myths about financial markets but also proposes ways to improve how our financial markets function. With financial markets and American opportunity so closely tied, financial policy is vital to supporting growth, productivity, and prosperity.

Norbert J. Michel is vice president and director of the Cato Institute's Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives, where he specializes in issues pertaining to financial markets and monetary policy. Michel is the author of Why Shadow Banking Didn't Cause the Financial Crisis: And Why Regulating Contagion Won't Help.

Jennifer J. Schulp is the director of financial regulation studies at the Cato Institute's Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives, where she focuses on the regulation of securities and capital markets. She has testified before Congress multiple times, including before the US Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the US House Committee on Financial Services.