Strafrechtliche Aufarbeitung der Finanzkrise

The financial crisis has caused discussion all over the world and led to the call for decision makers to be punished. This thesis discusses the validity of that call by explaining the relevance of the financial instruments needed for any such analysis, by examining all the aspects of the law that could be applied in this case which relate to the financial crisis – especially the criminal offence of breach of trust – and then by disclosing any loopholes in criminal liability. In a next step, the author presents the German legislative body’s reaction to the crisis and reveals how it was insufficient. The clear need for punishment leads the author to suggest a new legal norm which could close the aforementioned loopholes.