James Corcoran has more than 20 years of professional experience in finance and accounting, both with the public sector and with governments throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Currently (in 2015) he is engaged as the Senior Financial Expert for IWSP in Egypt, where this €300m programme will improve the water supply networks and waste water systems for more than 16 million people. In this expert synopsis for the University of South Wales, James Corcoran addresses the question of the global financial crisis.