Does Boom Always Follow Bust?
Four historians consider whether the sudden collapse of the world economy caused by the Covid-19 pandemic will be followed by an equally dramatic resurgence.
Economic History
What is the Value of Economic History?
When we ask historians which genre of history they like least, the most common answer is ‘economic’. Is the field unjustly maligned?
Regulation and Reputation
A new book is a paean to American capitalism.
Inflation – Who Wins?
Three historians discuss the historical phenomenon of inflation, focusing on the Roman Empire and the 16th century.
The Two Prices of Soy
Who cares whether China stops buying soy from the United States? History suggests we all should.
Satan’s Bank Note
In the early 19th century ‘filthy rags’ – or banknotes – became a common form of currency. A surge in forgery followed, accompanied by a surge in harsh prosecutions. How did we get from gold to paper?
Buying British
From Elizabethan laws to modern food campaigns: the long history of Britain's patriotic consumers.
Black Money
Attempts to control the spread of bank note forgery in India have proven ineffective and dangerous.
Adam Smith, the Prophet of Profit
The life and thought of Adam Smith, the father of modern economics, and the competing claims for his legacy.
Bankers’ Bonuses, Roman Style
Since antiquity, moneymen have been the target of vitriol.