The significance of financial globalization has sharply increased due to the current global financial crisis and the so-called Great Recession, which was sparked by the sub-prime mortgage debacle in the United Kingdom and the United States. After the failure of Northern Rock in September 2007, the world economy experienced what is arguably its most serious financial crisis since the Great Depression. It brusquely stopped three decades of expansion in the international capital markets. The crisis, and a nascent recovery in late 2009 and early 2010, has altered the global economic and financial landscape in numerous fundamental ways. Against this backdrop of profound transformation, this book focuses on the contemporary era of financial globalization. Dilip Das explores the academic and policy debates of this contemporary phase, delving into its most significant issues. He analyses the economic and financial forces which have been its principal drivers, as well as the important role that politics has had in shaping it. Whilst presenting the complete picture, he examines throughout the book the circumstances under which financial globalization can be welfare-enhancing and lead to rapid economic growth. He looks at the policy structure which is needed in order for a positive impact of financial globalization to overwhelm its negative ramifications. Readers will find in this book the latest knowledge and concepts on several important themes on financial globalization, presented in a manner in which they can appreciate and absorb them as well as use them as input in their own decision making.