What Was the Human Impact of the 2008 Financial Crisis?

In Chapters 1 and 2, we explored the “kerosene-soaked rag” of subprime mortgages and the collapse of major banks like Lehman Brothers. We learned that billion-dollar decisions in boardrooms could ripple outward to affect millions of ordinary people.

However, economics is not just about spreadsheets, it is about families, neighbourhoods and everyday life. The “Scorched Earth” phase describes the widespread human and social impact of the crisis, which included lost homes, jobs and trust in financial institutions.

At Apollo Scholars, we focus on helping students understand both numbers and human stories, showing how Wall Street actions can dramatically affect Main Street.