And also driven by the need to provide a return to shareholders.
Who needed that return to fund their mortgage/loan payments... You cannot blame one group alone for what happened, and your abdication of any personal responsibility smacks of desperation.
( The Teviot Moose major 5th., Tue 15 Jun 2010, 17:04, 1 reply)

They, er ... they would have provided a return to their shareholders anyway.
Wasn't it about the speed and grandure that was the issue, as opposed to the provision of a return?
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Tue 15 Jun 2010, 17:05, closed)

I doubt anyone was in it for the speed and grandeur. These deals were usually quite private and very complex
They certainly weren't "get your coat, you've pulled" sort of material.

Provision of a return to shareholders is one of the key drivers of a public company, and the ability to provide the return "expected" by the market/investors led to increasing pressure to originate loans.
( The Teviot Moose major 5th., Tue 15 Jun 2010, 17:18, closed)