In English ⁽¹²⁾

When New York City's Twin Towers came plunging down on Wall Street, they brought with them the employees and offices of some 280 companies. Six banks, five brokerage houses and three insurance companies had their headquarters in the two skyscrapers, and many more rented prestigious space there. The disaster's effects on the American and global economy were significant, but surprisingly, they were neither unprecedented nor completely devastating.

Sebastian Külps swirls around in his deep desk chair and leans back, a gesture that makes him look the young, prosperous and generally hardworking man that he is. Like most of his colleagues, he is in his early thirties, male and confident. His business card…