European debt crisis

It is difficult to summarise the article briefly on here - it is actually written quite well.

However, it is by no means certain to be asked this time - the article was not written by the examiner. Also, if it is asked then it will be one of the 3 choice questions, and so you will not be forced to answer it :)

Even if there is a choice, it might be time pressous to do four computation questions, and there may be one very difficult to do. So, tutor, could you generally explain how to handle this topic, pls? Thank you.

Do euro crisis and US crisis have the same root cause - default on securisation? Last sitting securisation came out, how about this sitting?

I am not sure that I agree so much about the time pressure with regard to the choice questions, but I certainly do agree that one of the computational questions is certainly likely to be difficult.

The problem with the written question is that it is a question that you cannot really learn for - there are so many things he can ask, and they it is rarely on a 'learning' topic.

My advice is to read generally as much as possible (the Economist is a good magazine to read - especially the Burtonwood column). If the written question is something you feel that you can write something intelligent about then it is one to go for - they always mark it more easily than the other questions because fewer people attempt it.

With regard to the euro crisis and the US crisis, you are write about the underlying cause being the level of private borrowing. However other factors have exacerbated it. You can find a very good short article on the causes on the following page: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16290598
(Click on the 'causes' tab)