Nicolas P. Retsinas is a senior lecturer in real estate at the Harvard Business School where he teaches courses in housing finance and real estate in emerging markets. He is also director emeritus of the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.Eric S. Belsky is managing director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University and lecturer in urban planning and design at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Together Retsinas and Belsky have edited four previous books copublished by the Joint Center and the Brookings Institution Press.
In highlighting the origins of the troubles of the past as well as challenges posed by the present system, the authors present a menu of possible solutions that is both innovative and thought-provoking. Policymakers at all levels of government should consider the insights this volume offers and use them as a guide as they consider how to improve the quality and robustness of the United States' consumer and housing finance system in serving all American families. -Raphael Bostic, Assistant Secretary, Policy Development and Research, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development | An important contribution to the literature on consumer and mortgage finance. -Stephen Brobeck, Executive Director, Consumer Federation of America | This is a timely and important publication that reflects on the challenges in the consumer credit and mortgage finance markets but more importantly provides critical insight into how we move forward in the wake of the worst financial crisis this country has faced since the Great Depression, particularly for the lower-income communities and populations that we serve. -Ken Wade, CEO, NeighborWorks America