Minsky's financial instability hypothesis, accounting information and the 2007-9 financial crisis in the UK and US

This paper examines the financial crisis of 2007-9 in the UK and US in terms of the financial instability hypothesis (FIH), a theory of boom, bust and financial crises. It is shown that in a similar way to the crises of 1866 and 1987 (Barnes, 2007) the FIH provides an important depiction of the 2007-9 crisis and how it came about. However, it does not recognize: (1) the role of accounting information and how it may contribute to boom and bust and be used to change perceptions and mislead; and (2) the likelihood of fraud and financial swindles, all features of the 2007-9 crisis.