Network theory takes root in post-crisis financial markets

Advocates of network theory in finance received a boost from the 2008 financial crisis. One of them is Kimmo Soramäki, founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of Network Theory in Finance, who believes the science opens exciting possibilities

Crisis shed light on interconnectedness within financial system

The 2008 crisis dealt a heavy blow to the global financial system – threatening its largest participants with collapse, triggering multi-billion-dollar government bailouts and leading to regulatory and market structure changes that continue to eat away at the industry's profits.

But for advocates of the use of network theory in finance, such as Kimmo Soramäki, the crisis provided a boost.

Prior to the crisis, a lack of interest in network theory and scarcity of data held back progress in