Intro; Contemporary Topics in Finance; Contents; 1 Contemporary Topics in Finance: A Collection of Literature Surveys; References; 2 A Survey of the International Evidence and Lessons Learned about Unconventional Monetary Policies: Is a 'New Normal' in our Future?; 1. Introduction; 2. The Transition to Unconventional Policies; 2.1 The 2008 GFC; 2.2 A Brief Typology of UMP; 3. The International Evidence to Date: Financial Markets; 3.1 Measurement Challenges; 3.2 Learning from Japan's Experience; 3.3 The GFC and Its Aftermath; 3.4 Is Europe Different?; 3.5 International Spillovers from UMP 4. The International Evidence to Date: Macro-Economic Effects4.1 Can UMP Have Real Economic Effects?; 4.2 DSGE Alternative; 4.3 Central Bank Credibility and Inflation Expectations; 5. Conclusions: Lessons Learned, the Exit and the New Normal; Acknowledgements; Notes; References; 3 Implicit Bank Debt Guarantees: Costs, Benefits and Risks; 1. Introduction; 2. Why Do Implicit Bank Debt Guarantees Arise?; 2.1 Why Do Explicit Bank Debt Guarantees Exist?; 2.2 Differences between Explicit and Implicit Bank Debt Guarantees; 2.3 Why Do Implicit Bank Debt Guarantees Arise? 3. Who Benefits from Implicit Bank Debt Guarantees?3.1 Bank Creditors; 3.2 Bank Owners; 3.3 Selected Other Stakeholders; 4. What Are the Economic Costs of Implicit Bank Debt Guarantees?; 4.1 Weakened Market Discipline; 4.2 Increased Risk-Taking; 4.3 Competitive Distortions; 4.4 Creating Perceived Contingent Liabilities for the Sovereign; 5. What Factors Influence the Value of the Perceived Guarantee?; 5.1 The Credit Strengths of the Debtor and the Guarantor; 5.2 Collective and Idiosyncratic Risk; 5.3 Estimating the Value of Implicit Bank Debt Guarantees 6. How Do Markets React to What Policy Makers Say and Do about Implicit Guarantees?6.1 How Do Policy Makers Communicate about the Issue of Implicit Bank Debt Guarantees?; 6.2 How Do Financial Markets React to What Policy Makers Say and Do?; 6.3 What Has Been the Response to the Special Treatment Administered to GSIBs So Far?; 7. Concluding Remarks and Open Issues; Acknowledgements; References; 4 Financial Fraud: A Literature Review; 1. Introduction; 2. False Financial Disclosures; 2.1 Rogue Traders: False Financial Disclosures at the Proprietary Trading Desks of Financial Firms 2.2 Mortgage Origination Fraud: False Financial Disclosures in the Context of Loan Applications2.3 Mortgage Securitization Fraud: False Financial Disclosures in the Context of Structured Finance Investments; 3. Financial Scams; 3.1 Investment Scams: Sham Business Ventures and Ponzi Schemes; 3.2. Financial Identity Scams: Phishing, Pharming and Payment Scams; 4. Fraudulent Financial Mis-Selling; 4.1. Predatory Lending: The Mis-Selling of Mortgage Loans; 4.2 The Mis-Selling of Life Insurance and Pension Schemes; 4.3 The Mis-Selling of Interest Rate Derivatives; 5. Conclusion; Acknowledgements