The (Mis)Behaviour of Markets

Benoit Mandelbrot, father of fractal geometry, revolutionised our understanding of the models of modern financial theory. This new edition includes material on the current market crisis, calling for an end to the tunnel vision of our bankers whose over-confidence in their understanding of markets ended in catastrophe. Fractal geometry is the mathematics of roughness: how to reduce the outline of a jagged leaf or static in a computer connection to a few simple mathematical properties. With his fractal tools, Mandelbrot has got to the bottom of how financial markets really work. He finds they have a shifting sense of time and wild behaviour that makes them volatile, dangerous, and beautiful. In his models the complex gyrations of the FTSE 100 and exchange rates can be reduced to straightforward formulae that yield a much more accurate description of the risks involved.

'Mandelbrot is acknowledged as the father of chaos theory... he is, simply, very clever indeed.' - Sunday Telegraph'The reader gets a clear picture of the history of finance theory... the best financial read.' - Financial Times'Entertainingly written... this book is a brain-opener that adds hugely to our sum of knowledge.' - Director

Benoit Mandelbrot is Sterling Professor of Mathematical Sciences at Yale University. Richard Hudson is a former managing editor of Wall Street Journal Europe.

The international bestseller that foreshadowed a market crash, with new material on the current financial crisis. Benoit Mandelbrot, father of fractal geometry, revolutionised our understanding of the models of modern financial theory. This new edition includes material on the current market crisis, calling for an end to the tunnel vision of our bankers whose over-confidence in their understanding of markets ended in catastrophe. Fractal geometry is the mathematics of roughness: how to reduce the outline of a jagged leaf or static in a computer connection to a few simple mathematical properties. With his fractal tools, Mandelbrot has got to the bottom of how financial markets really work. He finds they have a shifting sense of time and wild behaviour that makes them volatile, dangerous, and beautiful. In his models the complex gyrations of the FTSE 100 and exchange rates can be reduced to straightforward formulae that yield a much more accurate description of the risks involved.

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