Alfred Steinherr

When it first published in spring 1998, Derivatives: The Wild Beast of Finance made bold predictions and recommendations for the future of global finance. Alfred Steinherr explained that, without effective risk management, the incredible explosion in the use and value of derivatives could destabilise the entire global market structure. His views and suggested solutions were not universally accepted. And then, suddenly, in the space of a few months many of the inherent dangers he set out became reality - the Asian crisis took a vicious toll on the tiger economies and the Russian bear collapsed, heralding the ultimate destruction of the most celebrated hedge fund of recent years - Long-Term Capital Management. The knock-on effect of the LTCM collapse was so severe that the US Fed was forced to intervene. In this extensively revised paperback edition, Alfred Steinherr brings the story up to date and uses the opportunity to analyse and reflect on the effectiveness of the solutions he offered first time around. Much of the more technical material from the original edition has been removed to produce a highly readable and thought-provoking explanation of the origins and benefits of global finance, while once again assessing the dangers - imagined and real - that still lurk within this fascinating world. Time alone will tell how much heed is taken this time. "Alfred Steinherr has written a fascinating book that examines the role derivatives play in developing the world economy today, and the part they will have in shaping the financial markets of tomorrow. For practitioners, officials and students alike, Steinherr has provided a lively and informative canter through the world of derivatives." Investors Digest ". a welcome departure from most texts on the topic. Books on derivatives seem either to be ludicrously sensationalist or steeped in higher level mathematics. In contrast, this work by Alfred Steinherr is both accessible and rigorous." Investment Adviser ". will give a useful insight into the relationship between the derivatives market and the wider financial markets to the general reader. a highly informative read for those who really want to get to grips with what the derivatives markets are all about. " The Investor "Steinherr brings a lucid approach to a complex topic with this book [and] has produced a comprehensive overview which manages to combine a readable style with considerable detail and thought-provoking ideas for the future." European Fund Manager

Analysing the key problems facing the transition countries in Central and Eastern Europe, this accessible book describes the legacy of the central planners, the progress achieved so far and the need for further reforms. It documents the outstanding successes and failures, and analyses why certain approaches to transition have worked and others have not. It tests where transition is over and shows how some countries have graduated from 'transition' to 'integration' through their efforts to join the European Union (EU). It discusses the costs and benefits of the eastern enlargement of the EU. The specific experiences of German unification, the Soviet Union's disintegration, and Russia's complex reforms are examined, as are the specific issues that need to be addressed in the Balkans. The book concludes by indicating how the expanding EU could help the poor performers through inclusion in a continent-wide integrated economic area.

Analysing the key problems facing the transition countries in Central and Eastern Europe, this accessible book describes the legacy of the central planners, the progress achieved so far and the need for further reforms. It documents the outstanding successes and failures, and analyses why certain approaches to transition have worked and others have not. It tests where transition is over and shows how some countries have graduated from 'transition' to 'integration' through their efforts to join the European Union (EU). It discusses the costs and benefits of the eastern enlargement of the EU. The specific experiences of German unification, the Soviet Union's disintegration, and Russia's complex reforms are examined, as are the specific issues that need to be addressed in the Balkans. The book concludes by indicating how the expanding EU could help the poor performers through inclusion in a continent-wide integrated economic area.

By introducing a new national currency in November 1993, the Republic of Kazakstan took a decisive step towards establishing its political and economic independence. In the following years, Kazakstan made great efforts to lay the institutional foundation for econonmic policy in line with a free market system. The cooperation between Kazak experts and independent international advisors such as the group of German econonmists under the leadership of Lutz Hoffmann played an important role for the Kazak government in choosing the most effective concepts and instruments for economic policy. Thus, the main topic of this book is the discussion of the macroeconomic problems during the first years of transition and the role of international financial institutions, in particular the International Monetary Fund. The topics are dealt with in a new form of presentation, collecting the papers of the advisory group in chronological order.

When it first published in spring 1998, Derivatives: The Wild Beast of Finance made bold predictions and recommendations for the future of global finance. Alfred Steinherr explained that, without effective risk management, the incredible explosion in the use and value of derivatives could destabilise the entire global market structure. His views and suggested solutions were not universally accepted. And then, suddenly, in the space of a few months many of the inherent dangers he set out became reality — the Asian crisis took a vicious toll on the tiger economies and the Russian bear collapsed, heralding the ultimate destruction of the most celebrated hedge fund of recent years — Long-Term Capital Management. The knock-on effect of the LTCM collapse was so severe that the US Fed was forced to intervene. In this extensively revised paperback edition, Alfred Steinherr brings the story up to date and uses the opportunity to analyse and reflect on the effectiveness of the solutions he offered first time around. Much of the more technical material from the original edition has been removed to produce a highly readable and thought-provoking explanation of the origins and benefits of global finance, while once again assessing the dangers — imagined and real — that still lurk within this fascinating world. Time alone will tell how much heed is taken this time. "Alfred Steinherr has written a fascinating book that examines the role derivatives play in developing the world economy today, and the part they will have in shaping the financial markets of tomorrow.… For practitioners, officials and students alike, Steinherr has provided a lively and informative canter through the world of derivatives." Investors Digest "… a welcome departure from most texts on the topic. Books on derivatives seem either to be ludicrously sensationalist or steeped in higher level mathematics. In contrast, this work by Alfred Steinherr is both accessible and rigorous." Investment Adviser "… will give a useful insight into the relationship between the derivatives market and the wider financial markets to the general reader.… a highly informative read for those who really want to get to grips with what the derivatives markets are all about." The Investor "Steinherr brings a lucid approach to a complex topic with this book [and] has produced a comprehensive overview which manages to combine a readable style with considerable detail and thought-provoking ideas for the future." European Fund Manager