Economic History
The Playboy of the Western Market: A Timeless Lesson on Hype, Bubbles, and Investor Psychology
A century-old play offers a timeless allegory for modern market bubbles, narrative economics, and the dangers of investing in hype over substance.
The Jaffa Cake Principle: What a 1990s Snack Food Dispute Teaches Us About Modern Finance, Fintech, and the Economy
Is it a cake or a biscuit? This simple question has profound implications for modern finance, fintech, and the global economy.
The Price of Progress: What a Nostalgic Letter About Thatcher’s Britain Teaches Us About Modern Finance
A nostalgic letter about Thatcher’s Britain reveals a crucial lesson about social trust and its profound impact on the modern economy, finance, and investing.
From Opium to Algorithms: How 19th-Century Trade Wars Shape Modern Finance
A historical look at the Opium Wars reveals uncomfortable parallels to modern economic coercion, impacting everything from trading to fintech.
The Jacobethan Blueprint: What Victorian Architecture Can Teach Modern Investors
Discover how the principles of 19th-century Neo-Jacobean architecture offer a powerful blueprint for success in modern finance, investing, and the economy.
The Verdict That Reshaped an Economy: How a 1959 Murder Trial Forged Modern India’s Investment Landscape
A 1959 murder trial led to the end of Indian juries, a key reform that strengthened the rule of law and paved the way for future economic stability.
From an 18th-Century Pastor to Wall Street’s AI: Why a 300-Year-Old Idea Still Dominates Modern Finance
A minor historical correction about statistician Thomas Bayes reveals the profound impact of his 18th-century ideas on modern finance, AI, and investing.
Operation Ajax: How a 1953 Coup in Iran Forged Decades of Geopolitical Risk for Investors
The 1953 Iranian coup, a pivotal moment in history, offers timeless lessons for modern investors on geopolitical risk, resource nationalism, and economics.
Beyond the Balance Sheet: A Victorian Asylum’s Guide to the Modern Economy
A 19th-century asylum’s archives reveal a timeless link between economic distress and mental health, offering crucial lessons for modern finance and investing.
From Purdah to Press Release: The Lost Art of Secrecy in High-Stakes Finance
A look back at “purdah,” the era of extreme UK Budget secrecy, and what its loss means for today’s high-speed finance, investing, and market integrity.
The 21-Million-Year-Old Kiss: What Ancient Apes Can Teach Us About Blockchain and the Future of Finance
An ancient evolutionary drive for trust, from the first kiss to modern blockchain, reveals the deep history and future trajectory of finance and technology.
Bismarck’s Ghost: Why 19th-Century Russian Strategy Haunts Today’s Global Economy
History offers a stark warning for modern investors. Russia’s current geopolitical stance isn’t new; it was a challenge even for statesman Otto von Bismarck.