Watch Addicted To Money

Addicted to Money was a four-part documentary series produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 2009. The show aims to explore the origins of the global financial crisis and the factors that led to the world's biggest economic meltdown since the Great Depression. The series also attempts to answer some of the crucial questions surrounding the issue and goes behind the headlines to reveal the human stories of those affected by the crisis.

Hosted by Aaron Auxier, the show starts by introducing the concept of money and how it has evolved from a barter system to a complicated financial instrument. The first episode of the series, titled "The Rise of the Machines," focuses on the role of technology in the finance sector and how it has reshaped the industry in recent years. It also examines the impact of computers and algorithms on the trading floor and how the rise of high-frequency trading and black box trading systems contributed to the financial collapse.

The second episode, titled "The Cost of Free Money," explores the central role of interest rates in shaping the economy and how the Federal Reserve Bank's policy of low-interest rates triggered a housing boom that eventually led to the subprime mortgage crisis. The show also examines the role of mortgage brokers and how they lured people into unaffordable loans, and the impact of securitization and derivatives on the housing market.

The third episode, titled "The End of the American Dream," delves deeper into the housing market and the ripple effect that the subprime crisis had on the wider economy. The show meets some of the people who lost their homes and explores the human cost of the crisis. The episode also examines the role of the ratings agencies and how their inaccurate risk assessments contributed to the financial meltdown.

The final episode, titled "The Aftermath," looks at the response to the crisis and whether enough has been done to prevent another financial crisis from occurring. The show examines the various government bailout packages and asks whether they were effective in saving the economy. It also explores the ongoing discussion around financial regulation and whether the lessons from the crisis have been learned.

Throughout the four episodes, Auxier speaks to a range of experts, including economists, bankers, journalists, and academics, to provide a comprehensive analysis of the global financial crisis. The show also features interviews with people who were directly impacted by the crisis, including homeowners, investors, and laid-off workers. By blending expert analysis with human stories, Addicted to Money offers a balanced and insightful look at one of the most defining events of the 21st century.

One of the strengths of the show is its ability to provide a clear explanation of complex financial concepts. The series does an excellent job of breaking down the intricate mechanisms of the financial system and explaining how they contributed to the crisis. The use of graphics and animations helps to make the information accessible to a general audience without dumbing it down.

Overall, Addicted to Money is a well-researched and engaging documentary series that offers a fresh perspective on the causes and consequences of the global financial crisis. The show's exploration of the human stories behind the headlines gives the audience an intimate understanding of the impact that the crisis had on people's lives. The series remains relevant today, as the world continues to grapple with the aftermath of the financial meltdown.