[New York Stock Exchange bell] [opening sequence] [opening sequence] [opening sequence] [opening sequence] The biggest fiscal stimulus we have ever seen. That'll solve the problem. The vision that some have blamed for the company's financial troubles. You're saying everyday, we could have never seen this coming, this was a shock. Dow and DuPont, changing plans of their breakup, the two companies just finalized their merger. These losses will be greater than they would have otherwise. Hundred-thousand plus employees that built this company, leave every day... Dramatic decline of dollar, a dramatic increase in interest rates, significant fueling of inflation, a very, very deep recession and possibly depression. Ultimately, there is going to be a price all around the world to be paid for this, and the longer it continues, the bigger that price is going to be. In 2008, the financial system experienced one of its worst crisis in almost 100 years. We have seen how the traditional financial system has brought the world to the brink of collapse. It was not an isolated incident from the Great Depression to the Asian financial crisis, financial crises have always been pivotal moments in history that shaped our financial system. In every crisis, there lies an opportunity though. As we all face, something new emerges. We live in an extremely exciting time, where technology and opportunity coincide. As customers adapt to these new technologies, and as the financial services industry begins to embrace these new technologies and integrate them into their business, the need for new kinds of financial regulation increases as well. Hi, my name is Co-Pierre Georg. I am an associate professor in finance at the African Institute of Financial Markets and Risk Management at the University of Cape Town here in South Africa. I invite you to join me on this course, Financial Regulation in Emerging Markets, and the Rise of Fintech companies. This four week course covers the major financial crisis over time, starting from the Great Depression and the Asian financial crisis. I will show how financial interconnectedness, and subprime mortgages ignited the global financial crisis of 2007 and 2008, with repercussions that can still be felt today. You will understand the ideas and concepts behind our current regulatory framework, and how Fintech companies are navigating its edges in their quest for innovation. You will learn about Blockchain, smart contracts, and initial coin offerings, the new financial instruments that fuel the Fintech revolution. I then invite you to take a tour with me around the world to learn how regulators from United States to China, Brazil, and South Africa are reacting now. The course also gives you an insight into the Blockchain and distributed ledger technologies, which will form the backbone of the financial system of the future. You will meet an awesome lineup of individuals, who are at the forefront of Fintech innovation in emerging markets. You will learn about the new business models that Fintech has enabled from peer-to-peer lending, to remittances, and you'll meet the people who actually make this change happen. If you are a student and aspiring entrepreneur, someone with a finance or computer science background, a professional in the financial services, or tech industry with an interest in Fintech, then this course is for you. If you would like to become a change maker and trailblazer in the financial services industry, then join me as we step into the exciting new world of Fintech.