Guaranteed To Fail

‘… a comprehensive and well-written study of the role played by Fannie and Freddie in the events leading up to the financial crisis [of 2008] … This book is timely as well as insightful, and will be an influential contribution to the debate on the role of government-sponsored enterprises.’- Raghuram G. Rajan, author of Fault Lines: How Hidden Fractures Still Threaten the World Economy The financial collapse of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2008 led to one of the most sweeping government interventions in private financial markets in history. The bailout has already cost American taxpayers close to $150 billion, and substantially more will be needed. The U.S. economy – and by extension, the global financial system – has a lot riding on Fannie and Freddie. They cannot fail, yet that is precisely what these mortgage giants are guaranteed to do. How can we limit the damage and avoid making the same mistakes in the future? Guaranteed to Fail explains how poorly designed government guarantees for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac led to the debacle of mortgage finance in the United States, weighs different reform proposals, and provides sensible, practical recommendations. Despite repeated calls for tougher action, Washington has expanded the scope of its guarantees to Fannie and Freddie, fuelling more and more housing and mortgages all across the economy. This book unravels the dizzyingly immense, highly interconnected businesses of Fannie and Freddie. It proposes a unique model of reform that emphasizes public-private partnership, one that can serve as a blueprint for better organizing and managing government-sponsored enterprises like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In doing so, Guaranteed to Fail strikes a cautionary note about excessive government intervention in markets. It is a note that is as relevant in India and this special edition includes a chapter on government-sponsored enterprises which, in the light of what happened to UTI’s flagship scheme US-64, shows the possible repercussions of such interventions.