10 Years of lehman bankruptcy – subprime mortgages as a trigger for the crisis
10 years ago, a financial crisis occurred whose impact is still being felt today. The Lehman bankruptcy in 2008 was the trigger for it. But how did it come about and what role did the so-called subprime mortgages play in it??
Subprime mortgages were loans made to customers with weak credit ratings. These loans were sold in bundles to banks, investment funds and insurance companies, which in turn used them to create so-called collateralized debt obligations (CDOs). These CDOs were traded on the international financial markets and were considered particularly attractive because of their high yields.
Lehman Brothers, a major investment bank in the U.S., had also invested heavily in these CDOs. However, as more and more customers defaulted on their loans, CDOs rapidly lost value. Lehman Brothers ran into financial difficulties as a result and eventually became insolvent.
But the Lehman bankruptcy was only the trigger for a global financial crisis. Confidence in banks and the financial system was shaken and many investors withdrew their money. The consequences were massive price drops on the stock markets and a worsening of the already existing economic crisis.
The subprime mortgages that triggered the crisis showed how dangerous it can be when greed for high yields leads to imprudent investments. The effects of the financial crisis are still being felt today and it remains to be seen what lessons will be learned from it.
The reasons for the collapse of Lehman Brothers
The Lehman bankruptcy 10 years ago was a major milestone in the financial crisis that affected many parts of the world. The causes of the collapse were many, but the main reason was the overvaluation of subprime mortgages.
Subprime mortgages are loans to people with poor credit ratings. However, these loans were often made to people who could not afford the monthly payments. The banks knew that these loans were risky, but nevertheless they were bundled and resold to investors.
When house prices began to fall, borrowers were unable to repay their loans and the banks suffered losses. The securities based on these mortgages became worthless and many investors lost their money. The collapse of Lehman Brothers was just the beginning and led to a domino effect throughout the financial industry.
- Overvaluation of subprime mortgages
- Giving mortgages to people with poor credit ratings
- Resale of loans to investors
- The collapse of house prices
- Losses incurred by banks and investors
The Lehman bankruptcy showed that the financial industry is still unregulated in many areas and that such a collapse could happen again at any time. There have been attempts to improve regulation and oversight of the industry, but it remains to be seen whether this is sufficient to prevent a crisis of this nature in the future.
Subprime mortgages triggered the crisis
The Lehman bankruptcy 10 years ago showed how dangerous subprime mortgage issuance can be. Triggered by rising demand for homeownership, banks in the U.S. made loans to people with low incomes and poor credit scores without requiring sufficient collateral. These risky loans were then bundled by banks and sold as valuable securities.
However, when real estate prices began to fall, borrowers could no longer service the loans. The securities that banks sold to investors lost their value almost overnight. Banks could no longer absorb their losses and filed for bankruptcy, consequently triggering a global financial crisis.
The crisis has shown the importance of stricter regulation of financial markets to avoid future crises. Banks need to be more closely monitored to ensure that they are lending responsibly and are adequately collateralized.

Today, 10 years later, many countries have introduced stricter financial regulations. However, it is important to remain ever vigilant to ensure that a similar crisis does not happen again. The Lehman bankruptcy showed that even seemingly healthy and established banks can be put at great risk by issuing subprime mortgages.
- Subprime mortgages: loans to people with low incomes and poor credit scores
- Bundling of risky loans sold as valuable securities
- Falling real estate prices lead to loan defaults
- Bank losses lead to insolvency and global financial crisis
- Need for stronger financial regulation to prevent future crises
The subprime crisis: 10 years after the Lehman bankruptcy
A decade ago, the global economy was shaken when the investment bank Lehman Brothers collapsed. But what was the trigger? It was the subprime mortgages that escalated into a crisis that caused a global recession. This crisis had not only a financial but also a social impact on people.
Many families lost their assets invested in homes. In the U.S. in particular, it led to a worsening of poverty. But the consequences were also felt in Europe. Banks ran into difficulties and job losses occurred. In many countries, there was a loss of confidence in the government and the financial system.

The crisis also had political repercussions. It contributed to the emergence of populist parties and changed the political climate in Europe and the U.S. In addition, stricter regulations of the banking system were introduced to prevent a similar event in the future.
- Conclusion: The subprime crisis and the Lehman bankruptcy had a far-reaching impact on the financial and economic world and on society in general. It is important to learn from these events and ensure that we take steps to prevent a similar crisis in the future.
Measures taken to overcome the crisis
Over the past decade, the global economy has recovered from the deepest crisis since the 1930s. The Lehman bankruptcy triggered the financial crisis, which turned into a serious economic crisis. But what are the measures to overcome the crisis?
First, governments and central banks around the world have taken steps to stabilize the financial system and support the economy. From propping up banks and artificially lowering interest rates, many steps were taken to prevent the crisis from getting worse.
Another important step was that regulators around the world tightened their oversight and supervision. The introduction of new rules for banks and financial institutions is intended to prevent future crises and contain the risk of banking crises.
To support economic recovery, many governments also introduced stimulus programs. These have had a positive effect on employment figures and economic growth in many countries.
- In summary, measures to overcome the crisis include stabilizing the financial system, tightening regulation and supervision, and stimulus programs to support economic recovery.
What we have learned from the 2008 crisis
The 2008 crisis, triggered by the Lehman bankruptcy, showed us that the financial system is vulnerable to risk and uncertainty. Subprime mortgages, which were responsible for the crisis, were imprudently issued and bundled by banks. Regulations have been insufficient to keep financial institutions in check.
In response to the crisis, regulations were tightened and strict supervision of banks and financial institutions was introduced. Risk assessments, in particular, have been improved to better predict the extent of potential crises. Banks are also now being encouraged to hold sufficient capital to be better prepared in the event of a crisis.
But despite these improvements, there is still criticism of the regulations and supervision by the authorities. Some argue that banks are still taking too much risk and putting unsafe products on the market. Others argue that regulations are too strict and create too much bureaucracy.
The bottom line, however, is that the 2008 crisis was instructive and will help make the financial system safer in the future. It remains to be seen whether current regulations will be sufficient to prevent another financial crisis or whether further measures will be necessary.
- The 2008 crisis was triggered by the Lehman bankruptcy
- Subprime mortgages were the cause
- Regulations were tightened to make the financial system more secure
- Banks must hold sufficient capital
- Continued criticism of regulations and oversight
- Crisis of 2008 was instructive