Includes bibliographical references (p. 109-115) and index.

Understanding the subprime crisis / Path to investing -- The subprime mortgage crisis is destroying homes and neighborhoods / Jeff Swicord -- Disregard for applicants' incomes contributed to the subprime problem / Gretchen Morgenson -- Wall Street created the subprime problem / Paul Muolo -- Washington is responsible for the subprime crisis / John Atlas and Peter Dreier -- The Federal Reserve board is responsible for the subprime crisis / Tito Boeri and Luigi Guiso -- The Federal Reserve board is not responsible for the subprime crisis / Irwin M. Stelzer -- Racial discrimination may be an issue in the subprime crisis / Algernon Austin -- Many working Americans cannot afford a home / Michael Grunwald -- The government should focus on families that have lost their homes / Paul Weinstein, Jr. -- The government should print more money to free up funds for lending / John H. Makin -- The lending industry should be regulated to protect consumers / Neal Peirce -- Smarter buyers and tougher lending standards are needed / Hans L. Schwendimann -- The government should not bail out problem mortgages / David C. John -- Lenders should not be allowed to charge more for mortgages in poor areas / Mary Kane.