Nouriel Roubini: Why Gordon Gekko Is Back

Nouriel Roubini: Gordon Gekko Is Back

A generation later, the sequel to Wall Street -- to be released next month -- sees Gekko released from jail and returned to the financial world. His reappearance comes just as the credit bubble fueled by the sub-prime mortgage boom is about to burst, triggering the worst financial and economic crisis since the Great Depression.

The "Greed is good" mentality is a regular feature of financial crises. But were the traders and bankers of the sub-prime saga more greedy, arrogant, and immoral than the Gekkos of the 1980's? Not really, because greed and amorality in financial markets have been common throughout the ages.

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot