Conversations With History: The Ascent of Money

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Harvard historian Niall Ferguson for a discussion of his new book, "The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World." Drawing on insights from the biological sciences, Ferguson describes the rise and evolution of finance focusing on insurance, banks, and the bond market. Using the examples of housing and the U.S. China economic relationship, Ferguson demonstrates the way history can inform our understanding of the current financial crisis. He also reflects on the implications of the financial crisis for American global hegemony. Series: Conversations with History [12/2008] [Humanities] [Show ID: 15580]

Category:

Education

Tags:

• niall
• ferguson
• book
• ascent
• money
• financial
• history
• world

[tridentlax13]

I honestly think that this book/program should be mandatory before you can have any legitimate opinion about economics and finance. It's broad and high level, yet very educational for the average person.

[andrwrhds21]

Niall Ferguson is like James Bond

[jjcale1111]

@tridentlax13 The Rotchshilds agree with you .... Fergie is their boy

[JordanMargetts]

@justnotcricket I agree, his economic history is great, but when it comes to international political history he's a typical flag waving imperialist.

[justnotcricket]

One of our better public intellectuals, and a fine historian too... but a terrible political theorist.

[CosmoPearl]

@BeaucoupRed Absolutely right! The frustration now is greater than it used to be. People have the choice to know and can actually learn much to make up their own minds, if not through complicated books then via interesting publicly available audiovisual documentaries. Yet, they don't. It's soon categorized as "conspiracy theory". The ruler in thier high seats laugh and say: "what you know! Great secret are easier to hid. They will always be met with public ridicule"

[theseanze]

what's with the intro music?

[MsKristi99]

Very informative and well presented. Yet I think that N. Ferguson misses at least one important aspect of securitization: namely that it is a fast track to create debt without creating money. I have illustrated this issue in my blog (blog.logicoffinance, article Securitisation -- Fast Way to Create Debt)

[rgainsburg]

7 people were creeped out by Harry Kreisler's tie.

[BabyuaTawnyaa941]

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