Today, the defunct economic theory is that a rapid shift in preferences – colorfully called a “reduced appetite for risk” – is the key reason behind the current sub-prime mortgage and financial crisis.

今天，过时的经济理论是发生迅速转变的偏好——被美称为“弱化了的对风险的渴望”是当前次级抵押以及金融危机背后的主要原因。

© Project Syndicate 1995 – 2011

http://www.project-syndicate.org/ 23.12.2010

© Project Syndicate 1995 – 2011

http://www.project-syndicate.org/ 23.12.2010

To avoid future increases in this appetite, policymakers and pundits have focused on the so-called “moral hazard problem”: the “bad guys” must pay for their mistakes, lest they make them again.

为了避免这种渴望的增长，决策者和专家们关注于“道德风险问题”：“坏孩子”一定要为他们的错误付出代价，否则他们还会重犯。

© Project Syndicate 1995 – 2011

http://www.project-syndicate.org/ 23.12.2010

© Project Syndicate 1995 – 2011

http://www.project-syndicate.org/ 23.12.2010