Frontline Season 21 Episode 19 The Wall Street Fix
- May 8, 2003
The Wall Street Fix is the 19th episode of the 21st season of Frontline, a documentary series that highlights important issues and events in America and around the world. This powerful episode examines the Wall Street meltdown of 2008 and how it impacted the broader American economy.
The episode begins by exploring the causes of the financial crisis, including Wall Street's culture of risk-taking and deregulation. Viewers learn how banks and financial institutions became too big to fail, thanks to years of lax regulation and practices that prioritized short-term profits over long-term stability.
The documentary then turns to the aftermath of the crisis, discussing how the government attempted to address the problems and prevent similar catastrophes in the future. Specifically, the episode delves into the Dodd-Frank Act, a sweeping piece of legislation passed in response to the crisis. The act aimed to prevent banks from becoming too big to fail and to regulate risky financial practices.
However, the episode also explores how Wall Street responded to these changes. Through interviews with experts and insiders, we learn how regulatory agencies have struggled to keep up with the industry's rapidly evolving practices, and how some Wall Street firms have found ways to skirt regulations and continue engaging in risky behavior.
The Wall Street Fix is a fascinating and important episode that sheds light on an issue that continues to impact the American economy. Viewers will come away with a better understanding of the causes of the financial crisis and the ongoing efforts to prevent similar events in the future. The episode is meticulously researched, and the interviews with experts and insiders provide valuable insight into this complex topic. For anyone interested in finance or economics, The Wall Street Fix is a must-watch.