This timely book explores the measurement and consequences of financialisation, as well as its driving forces, to take a fresh look at reconciling the twin concepts of financialisation and financial development. Imad Moosa provides a critical review of these two separate strands - the individual measures of economic development and financialisation - on the grounds that they are inadequate to represent a multi-dimensional process. Introducing a new composite measure encompassing the means of payment and asset ownership as well as conventional indicators, Moosa expertly investigates the economic, political and social consequences of financialisation. Identifying the driving forces of financialisation, he concludes that there is a requirement to reverse the current trend using more than just legislation and regulation to secure a sound and stable economy. This innovative book will be a fascinating and informative read for academics and research students of financial economics, regulation and economic sociology. Policy makers and politicians engaged in financial regulation will find the suggested insights into achieving future financial stability thought-provoking.