Money, Power and Wall Street, Part One (full documentary) | FRONTLINE

Summary by Krater

This documentary investigates the roots of the 2008 financial crisis, examining how Wall Street banks developed and marketed credit default swaps and mortgage-backed securities that contributed to the economic collapse.

From the video

Answers: What caused the 2008 financial crisis and how did Wall Street contribute to it?

• 2008 financial crisis
• Credit default swaps
• Mortgage-backed securities
• Wall Street banking
• Subprime mortgages
• Financial regulation

What it concludes

• Wall Street financial institutions created complex credit derivatives that allowed them to skirt capital requirements and accumulate massive risk.
• The lack of regulation and transparency in the over-the-counter derivatives market fueled a global financial boom that ultimately led to the 2008 economic collapse.
• Major Wall Street banks and rating agencies failed to properly assess or disclose the systemic risks associated with subprime mortgages and synthetic CDOs.