Financial Systems

Explore the history and flaws of the Bretton Woods system, a global economic order established after World War II, and its impact on international cooperation and stability.

Explore the rise and fall of Emerging Markets through their complex history of growth, debt, and crisis.

Glasgow's 18th-century rise as an industrial hub, followed by a property market boom driven by speculation and financialization.

Explore the causes and effects of the 2007-08 global financial storm caused by subprime mortgage defaults and complex financial instruments.

Investigating the performance of property investments compared to stock market returns over two decades.

A 20th-century financial phenomenon where mortgage-backed securities transformed the bond market with government backing.

Learn about John Law's financial system that dominated France in the early 18th century but ultimately collapsed due to inflation, speculation, and government intervention.

Explore the financial crisis known as the Mississippi Bubble, where John Law's experiment with fiat currency creation led to inflation, speculation, and collapse.

Learn about the 18th-century financial experiment that collapsed due to speculative investing and monetary expansion, causing devastating consequences for investors and the French economy.

Learn about the rise and fall of John Law's financial empire in France during the early 18th century, shaped by government support, debasement, and paper credit systems.

In 1716, France established a public bank to revive economic confidence by issuing paper money and consolidating debt.

Learn about John Law's banking system, which marked a turning point in European financial history, and explore its impact on France's economy.

Discover John Law's 18th-century financial reforms that merged elements of public banking and monopoly trading companies, shaping the economic landscape of France.

Discover how 17th-century Amsterdam became a hub for financial innovation with joint-stock companies, central banks, and lottery loans.

Financial bubbles have persisted globally since 17th century share trading, fueled by speculation, deception, and institutional failure.

Nathan Rothschild adapted business strategy after Battle of Waterloo, building family fortune through diversification and risk management.

Explore the decline of fiat currency and its impact on purchasing power through historical context and comparisons.

Learn about the transition from the gold standard to fiat currency, a shift that impacted exchange rates and monetary policy.

Explore how the late 19th and early 20th centuries saw a shift towards central banking and deposit concentration in most advanced economies.

Explore how savings banks transformed finance in Britain and Germany by increasing deposits, assets, and access to credit for working-class households.