Financial crisis origin -- Banking sector stress tests: United States versus the European Union -- Is the U.S. economy on the mend? -- Global recovery prospects: North America and Europe, Asia, and South America -- Hedge funds and derivatives, credit default swaps, and rating agencies -- U.S. and EU regulatory proposals: how strict? How cooperative? -- Will the dollar remain a reserve currency? -- The Great Depression and the current financial crisis -- The future of American capitalism.