International Responses to Issues of Credit and Over-indebtedness in the Wake of Crisis: (Markets and the Law)

This book explores the political, economic and regulatory context in which credit regulation is taking place following the global financial crisis. It suggests that current neoliberal economic policies favour multi-national corporations rather than consumers and examines regulatory responses to the internationalization of consumer finance protection. Detailing how EU consumers have been affected by national economic conditions, the book also analyses the lending regimes of Europe, Australia, the US and South Africa and offers suggestions for responsible lending to avoid over-indebtedness and corrupt mortgage-lending. Finally, new approaches and directions for consumer credit regulations are outlined, such as protection for small businesses, protection against risky credit products, reorganization of mortgage securitization and the possibility of a partnership model to address financial exclusion. The book includes contributions from leading names in the field of consumer law and will be invaluable to those interested in banking, business and commercial law.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Part I Introduction: Credit and over-indebtedness: current context, regulatory responses and future possibilities, Therese Wilson. Part II International Context: Continuity not rupture: the persistence of neoliberalism in the internationalization of consumer finance regulation, Toni Williams; Access to, and exclusion of, European consumers from financial markets after the global financial crisis, Hans-W. Micklitz. Part III Current Responses: Culture or politics? Models of consumer credit regulation in France and the UK, Iain Ramsay; The responsible lending response, Therese Wilson. Part IV Possible Future Initiatives: Extending responsible lending to small business: a `consumer’ categorization?, Eileen Webb; Innovating for `safe consumer credit’: drawing on product safety regulation to protect consumers of credit, Luke Nottage; Bank-community development finance institution partnerships as a means for addressing financial vulnerability, Justin Malbon; Mortgage racketeering: the American home mortgage foreclosure crisis and the UN Convention against corruption, Christopher L. Peterson; Index.

About the Author :
Dr Therese Wilson is a Senior Lecturer in Law at Griffith University and a member of the Socio-Legal Research Centre. She currently teaches corporate law, banking and finance law and international commercial arbitration. Therese chairs the board of Foresters Community Finance Ltd and is a member of the board of Social Investments Australia Ltd. Therese Wilson, Toni Williams, Hans-W. Micklitz, Eileen Webb, Luke Nottage, Justin Malbon, Christopher L. Peterson.

Review :
'With this interesting and topical collection, Therese Wilson has brought together some of the leading commentators on consumer law and financial regulation. They, in turn, have contemplated some of the principal challenges emanating from the global financial crisis. The result is an impressive work of interest to lawyers, scholars and policy-makers alike.' Peter Cartwright, University of Nottingham, UK 'There are many books about the financial crisis, but this one is exceptional. The chapters survey the international landscape of failed past policies and promising new ones, without relying on dogma. This unique combination makes an important contribution to the on-going public debate about the future of consumer protection.' Kathleen Engel, Suffolk Law School, USA and co-author of The Subprime Virus: Reckless Lending, Regulatory Failure and Next Steps