The Heretic's Guide to Global Finance

Popular anger against the financial system has never been higher, yet the practical workings of the system remain opaque to many people. The Heretic's Guide to Global Finance aims to bridge the gap between protest slogans and practical proposals for reform. Brett Scott is a campaigner and former derivatives broker who has a unique understanding of life inside and outside the financial sector. He builds up a framework for approaching it based on the three principles of 'Exploring', 'Jamming' and 'Building', offering a practical guide for those who wish to deepen their understanding of, and access to, the inner workings of financial institutions. Scott covers aspects frequently overlooked, such as the cultural dimensions of the financial system, and considers major issues such as agricultural speculation, carbon markets and tar-sands financing. Crucially, it also showcases the growing alternative finance movement, showing how everyday people can get involved in building a new, democratic, financial system. This is an imaginative, even exuberant exploration of the daunting world of finance - it will unleash a generation of activists, and do a world of good. -- Bill McKibben, author of 'Deep Economy' This book provides a unique inside-out look at our financial system, based on the author's unusual personal adventure. It is not only a user-friendly guide to the complex maze of modern finance but also a manual for utilising and subverting it for social purposes in innovative ways. Smart and street-smart. -- Ha-Joon Chang, University of Cambridge, author of '23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism' Money is power, but so too is knowledge. Tinkering with regulation will not change the world, but empowered citizens just might. Brett Scott's entertaining and informative book is brimming with good ideas on how we can engage and change global finance on our own terms. -- Tony Greenham, Head of Finance and Business at the New Economics FoundationIntroduction Part I: Exploring 1. Putting on Financial Goggles 2. Getting Technical Part II - Jamming 3. Financial Culture-Hacking 4. Economic Circuit-bending Part III - Building 5. Building Trojan Horses 6. #DIY Finance Conclusion References Index