High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Many factors directly and indirectly caused the ongoing Financial crisis of 2007–10 (which started with the US subprime mortgage crisis), with experts placing different weights upon particular causes. The complexity and interdependence of many of the causes, as well as competing political, economic and organizational interests, have resulted in a variety of narratives describing the crisis. One category of causes created a vulnerable or fragile financial system, including complex financial securities, a dependence on short-term funding markets, and international trade imbalances. Other causes increased the stress on this fragile system, such as high corporate and consumer debt levels. Still others represent shocks to that system, such as the ongoing foreclosure crisis and the failures of key financial institutions. Regulatory and market-based controls did not effectively protect this system or measure the buildup of risk. Some causes relate...