Title: Collateral damaged : the marketing of consumer debt to America /
Authors: Geisst, Charles R.
Publisher: Bloomberg Press,
Year: 2009
Subjects: Consumer credit United States History.; Saving and investment United States History.
Abstract: "Collateral Damaged explains how America had turned from a nation of savers into a nation of consumers addicted to debt. Wall Street then used that addiction to create "toxic securities" that threaten to bring about the collapse of the global economy. How can America get its fiscal house in order again?"--Provided by publisher.
Contents: The great American credit machine -- Creating a consumer credit society in the 1920s -- A self-fulfilling prophecy -- The rise of credit cards -- The mortgage explosion -- The politics of debt -- Policy implications -- Prescription and outlook.