This volume examines the causes of the very volatile financial markets and exchange rate crises recently experienced, particularly in a number of European countries, and considers the implications for business cycle fluctuations and economic policy. It will attempt to clarify whether these developments can be attributed to further capital market liberalization, financial innovations, etc., or whether they are the product of business cycle changes in combination with shifts in the focus of economic policy towards less activism and low inflation. Issues related to the functioning of financial and exchange rate markets, the possibility of controlling these markets, the gains from liberalization and the implications for economic