Financial Crisis Explained for DLC Members

Heidi is the proprietor of a bar in Berlin .. In order to increase sales,
she decides to allow her loyal customers - most of whom are unemployed
alcoholics - to drink now but pay later. She keeps track of the drinks
consumed on a ledger (thereby granting the customers loans).
Word gets around and as a result increasing numbers of customers flood into
Heidi's bar.
Taking advantage of her customers' freedom from immediate payment
constraints, Heidi increases her prices for wine and beer, the most-consumed
beverages. Her sales volume increases massively.
A young and dynamic customer service consultant at the local bank recognizes
these customer debts as valuable future assets and increases Heidi's
borrowing limit. He sees no reason for undue concern since he has the debts
of the alcoholics as collateral.
At the bank's corporate headquarters, expert bankers transform these
customer assets into DRINKBONDS, ALKBONDS and PUKEBONDS. These securities
are then traded on markets worldwide. No one really understands what these
abbreviations mean and how the securities are guaranteed.
Nevertheless, as their prices continuously climb, the securities become
top-selling items.
One day, although the prices are still climbing, a risk manager
(subsequently of course fired due to his negativity) of the bank decides
that slowly the time has come to demand payment of the debts incurred by the
drinkers at Heidi's bar. However they cannot pay back the debts.
Heidi cannot fulfill her loan obligations and claims bankruptcy.
DRINKBOND and ALKBOND drop in price by 95 %. PUKEBOND performs better,
stabilizing in price after dropping by 80 %.
The suppliers of Heidi's bar, having granted her generous payment due dates
and having invested in the securities are faced with a new situation
Her wine supplier claims bankruptcy, her beer supplier is taken over by a
competitor.
The bank is saved by the Government following dramatic round-the-clock
consultations by leaders from the governing political parties.
The funds required for this purpose are obtained by a tax levied against the
non-drinkers.