Possibly of interest.....

Generali

....to 1984RFR and others who have a genuine or even passing interest in economic history:

http://www.bloomberg.com/view/echoes/

A new(ish) Bloomie blog on Economic History.

I enjoyed this about the post-US Civil War era and the various factions fighting for fiat money, a Gold Standard and a Silver Standard (the last 2 being where paper money can be exchanged for either Gold or Silver at a fixed rate on demand).

There are plenty of interesting (to me) posts to keep you occupied on a Friday morning.

Enjoy!

purch

Very interesting Gen.

The history of money (currency) is far more complex and interesting than often appreciated, especially some of the more simplistic ideas touted which appear to think everything was fine until 1971.

kabayiri

purch wrote: »

Very interesting Gen.

The history of money (currency) is far more complex and interesting than often appreciated, especially some of the more simplistic ideas touted which appear to think everything was fine until 1971.

I have a similar view about those who think technology automatically makes society function better. I also think this is simplistic.

Generali has posted a number of links which look back to the past, and set our current and future plans into context.

If I had a time machine, part of my time would be spent going back to those pivotal meetings throughout history where the acceptance of usury was promoted, and those who argued vigorously against.

chewmylegoff

kabayiri wrote: »

If I had a time machine, part of my time would be spent going back to those pivotal meetings throughout history where the acceptance of usury was promoted, and those who argued vigorously against.

really? i'd just go to 2015, buy a sports almanac and then come back...

lostinrates

chewmylegoff wrote: »

really? i'd just go to 2015, buy a sports almanac and then come back...

I'd go backwards to buy stuff definitely.

kabayiri

chewmylegoff wrote: »

really? i'd just go to 2015, buy a sports almanac and then come back...

I have to say.

LIR's plan sounds better, because it would make her richer today, whereas yours could potentially make you richer tomorrow

My plan means I end up taking notes on parchment, hardly a contender :rotfl:

FTBFun

chewmylegoff wrote: »

really? i'd just go to 2015, buy a sports almanac and then come back...

Can you bring back a hoverboard while you're at it.

Generali

chewmylegoff wrote: »

really? i'd just go to 2015, buy a sports almanac and then come back...

All I'd want is a copy of the FT dtd 17th December 2011. The day after the next 'quadruple witching' which is when index and stock options and futures expire. There's loads of volatility and loads of liquidity and I'd make out like a bandit on Viagra.

Economic history has been the ugly sister of economics for the past couple of decades. I think that with the apparent massive failure of economics to do what people want to use it for (ie predicting the future) there is a small resurgence as people look to the past for clues to what may happen next.

As Mark Twain said, 'History doesn't repeat itself but it does rhyme'.