This book presents several notable economists who describe the perils the economy faced at that time and the policies-some successful, others not so much-that were implemented and why. Overall it provides an encompassing account that includes comparisons with the Great Depression, the political fallout from the Great Recession and the challenges policymakers faced in restoring growth, the role of monetary policy in stabilizing the economy, the disappointing recovery, and how financial integration of developed nations around the world helped spread the downturn. Contributors include Barry Eichengreen; Gary Burtless; Donald Kohn; Laurence Ball, J. Bradford DeLong; and Kathryn M.E. Dominguez.