The “Occupy” movement has truly spread around the world since it began on Wall Street last month. This post is coming to you from London where, not but two tube stops away, Occupy London is currently taking place.

But, what’s the whole point? The underlying theme of the global protests seems to be the role of the financial sector and markets in the financial crisis that still prevails today. One can certainly see the emphasis on the necessity for appropriate financial regulation. It can be seen over the past few years how many of the world’s leaders in finance have backtracked on their previous views of regulation. It is no longer seen as the bureaucratic stereotype of the past, but as a necessary tool for the prevention of future global crises. Just yesterday, it was announced that Europe will see a “…sweeping set of financial-regulation reforms that seek to rein in derivatives trading and increase oversight of high-frequency strategies” (See: “EU Plans Overhaul of Financial Rules“). Whether or not the majority of protesters are aware of it, the riskiness of derivatives and other financial instruments played a large role in the financial crisis. While regulation must constantly be adjusted in order to remain appropriate and relevant, it is good to see, after so much back and forth, changes finally being made.