Panicos Demetriades served as Governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus and was a member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank from May 2012 until stepping down from the governorship in Cyprus in April 2014, a move that The Economistdescribed as 'a blow to central bank independence'. He returned to his academic position in the UK as Professor of Financial Economics at the University of Leicester shortly after. Professor Demetriades continues to speak regularly around the world on his experience as Governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus during one of Europe's worst financial crises. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Cambridge, UK, and BA and MA degrees, also in Economics, from the University of Essex, UK. His academic career spans a period of 25 years, the last 15 of which have been with the University of Leicester. He has published extensively in academic journals and books, primarily in the area of financial development. According to RePec (Research Papers in Economics) he is among the most widely read economics authors in the world. He has also published in 'popular' and specialist media, such as VOX-EU and The Financial Times. He is frequently a guest on TV and radio programmes worldwide in relation to the euro crisis, Brexit and other economic issues. Professor Demetriades is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences of the United Kingdom.

Written by the former Governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus who was in office during the financial crisis

Interdisciplinary, drawing on issues in economics, banking, regulation, governance, history, politics, and international relations

Features personal witness statements of key events and conversations held during this period

Chapter1 Introduction.- Chapter2 Baptism of Fire (Barcelona).- Chapter3 Entering a War Zone (Nicosia).- Chapter4 A Secret Lunch (Frankfurt).- Chapter5 In the Footsteps of Alexander.- Chapter6 A [...] Billion IMF Bill (or 'Your country is bankrupt').- Chapter7 A Russian Playground and a German Election.- Chapter8 An Ultimatum, a Bank Run and a Tearful Agreement.- Chapter9 Hostage to those who want to Destroy the Euro.- Chapter10 Nyet from Moscow.- Chapter11 An Angry Prez.- Chapter12 Taxing the Poor to Help the Rich.- Chapter13 Looking at the Abyss.- Chapter14 Sleepless Nights.- Chapter15 Dragoman of the Troika.- Chapter16 The Independents (Two Englishmen, a Cypriot and A Swiss).- Chapter17 The Toxic Fallout from Bail-in.- Chapter18 Lessons from Cyprus.