Economy refers to the management, distribution, usage, and affairs of resources related to a particular group of people, or entities. Questions about economies, or economic history will cover the how and why a particular resource, or state of production occurred in a certain way.
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2answers
76 views
Parable of the broken window and 1929 crisis
I've read that, in 1938, economic crisis was taking back, and that it's the war effort that finally closed the 1929 crisis.
Is it not a version of the parable of the broken window ? How a war effort ...
3
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0answers
21 views
Origin of land-lottery system
A report from 1894 describes the Musha'a land tenure system in the Arab villages of Palestine: the agricultural lands of the village are considered common property, and they are divided each year ...
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2answers
79 views
Was the N.E.P. of Russia successful in terms of economics?
The Soviet's New Economic Plan was indeed a successful plan in establishing a comparatively strong postwar economy for the Soviet Union, but there were many imperfections: food prices fluctuated ...
5
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2answers
74 views
Where can I find financial data for the first world war? [closed]
I want to analyse the first world war on the financial aspect. Here are some of my questions.
Which countries borrowed money to win the war?
Where were weapons manufactured?
Where can I get ...
16
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3answers
2k views
How did Nazi Germany finance itself during WW2?
How did Nazi Germany finance itself during the war? They produced a large amount of war material during 1939-1945, but how was this production financed? What were Germany's revenue streams that ...
3
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3answers
83 views
The economic prosperity of former colonies and their demographic make up
Most former colonies are now developing or poor countries, such as many countries in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Some exceptions are Australia, the United States, Canada. Interestingly they are ...
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0answers
36 views
Have there been historical precedents for Ecuador's defaulting on Odious Debt?
Rafael Correa, president of Ecuador in 2008 defaulted on Odious debt in 2008. Have there been precedents for this before - specifically for the global south; and within the Global North? Has the USA ...
4
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6answers
207 views
Has scholarship shown that persecuted religious minorities have tended to be financially successful?
In this interview with Neal Stephenson, talking about the historical basis for his Baroque Cycle series of novels, he makes the remark that
... persecuted religious minorities, if they’re not ...
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3answers
149 views
How did shells, bones, and other trinkets work as currency?
One often hears stories about civilised and pre-civilised societies using shells, bones, and other trinkets as currency. How exactly did this system work? Taking the example of shells, did they have ...
5
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3answers
251 views
How has Chinese GDP as a percentage of world GDP changed over time and why?
I've heard it's 33% during the Qing dinasty. 4% during cultural revolution. Now it's climbing up steadily to 11%.
Where can I see the table of those actually tracking those numbers?
What were the ...
13
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4answers
388 views
Was the Roman Empire based on a 'plunder economy'?
It has been stated by Arnold J. Toynbee and James Burke that:
The economy of the Empire was a Raubwirtschaft or plunder economy
based on looting existing resources rather than producing anything
...
12
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3answers
330 views
Has a state ever “attacked” another one by printing fake money?
Has any state ever performed an "economic attack" against another state, by printing fake money of the victim's currency?
Or, is it known if someone ever considered doing it, and which were the ...
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2answers
164 views
What was Lenin's “New Economic Policy” and what complications did it have?
I have recently read an article on Lenin's New Economic Policy, and I was wondering if there were two sides to the story. What were some of the complications of this policy? In addition to this, was ...
10
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5answers
324 views
What was the worst economic crisis of all times?
I am interested in reading about the worst economic crisis of all times. By that I mean the largest reduction in GDP over a period of at least a year. The economic crisis should not have been caused ...
6
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4answers
143 views
Is there a link between national debt/trade deficit and starting a war?
I saw in an article mentioning that there is a link between national debt and starting wars I don't recall where I've seen it mentioned to look for further references on the matter.
Are there known ...
2
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1answer
33 views
Inflation After Executive Order 6102 (FDR Leaving GoldStandard)
I'm looking at this image which implies that the US leaving the Gold Standard started revival after the Great Depression. I'm thinking that it could all be explained with rapid inflation due to the ...
5
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1answer
73 views
What were some of the complications of Marshall Plan?
What were some of the complications that were revolved around the Marshall Plan? Were the Soviets involved in any way?
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1answer
131 views
Examples of censorship causing economic decline
I am writing a blog post about knowledge banning, either by state censorship or by self-imposed censorship, like the US Comics Code Authority of the 20th century.
My focus is moral censorship, ...
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1answer
10k views
What was the economic impact of WW1 on USA's economy?
It's well known that WW2 had a greatly positive impact on American economy. Up to the point of certain historians being sure that, if not for WW2, FDR would have had a major economic problems on his ...
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1answer
43 views
Which are the most economic and military based civilizations [closed]
I've been working on an MMOSG game and wanted your opinions about which were the most economic and militarily powerful civilizations in history.
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3answers
226 views
Effects of deliberately creating inflation to eliminate domestic debt [closed]
T.E.D. commented on this answer:
Sometimes (particularly in developing countries) they literally are printing more money. In the USA typically we increase the money supply to make up for some kind ...
5
votes
1answer
131 views
What are the social preconditions for division of labour, when compared in different emerging civilizations?
I would like to know if historians/economists/sociologists agree on the preconditions required for division of labour in ancient and/or earlier societies. Are there any common preconditions and ...
2
votes
1answer
321 views
What is the secret behind the economic success of ROC(Taiwan)?
Even though the Republic of China (also known as Taiwan) is not a member of the United Nations, it has been economically successful. What is the secret behind the economic success of it then?
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1answer
133 views
How did the existence of the Alps impact the development of Switzerland?
Can anyone tell me what was the role of Alps and Alpine region in Swiss development of Switzerland?
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2answers
133 views
Buying/Renting/Leasing houses during history?
I was wondering about something. After the last financial crisis, many people have talked about not buying a house, but renting one, and they made it sound like a "new" idea. So what was it like ...
10
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3answers
210 views
Approximately what was the short-term economic loss to Britain as a result of the Revolutionary War being lost?
Is there any research that shows what the economic impact was to the British economy stemming from the 13 Colonies obtaining independence?
It could be either a narrower estimate of purely tax losses ...
20
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1answer
447 views
Did the end of the British Raj in India create an economic loss for Britain?
I know the economic downturn of the World War and the victory of the Labour Party played some role in Britain deciding to quit India. Did GB have any serious economic implications because of this? ...
5
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2answers
362 views
Were the British Over-Taxing their 13 American Colonies?
The British levied several taxes on the American Colonists (13), which were at least part of the reason for the American Revolution. Were the British taxing the 13 colonies for more money than was ...
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2answers
265 views
What were the operating principles of Japan's MITI during the 1950s and 60s?
Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) guided Japan's economy through two decades of unprecedented economic growth. MITI was the primary instrument of Japan's industrial policy, ...
3
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1answer
69 views
What were the first “Big Banks” in the United States?
The large financial institutions of the world have dominated the news cycle for the past few years, and it got me thinking, what were the first large banks in the US? I am interested in hearing about ...
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4answers
131 views
How would you accurately use older British currencies?
For writing a story set in Napoleonic Wars era, how should one use the currencies accurately? I read in novels they use currencies like shilling, pound, guinea, sovereign, four (or six-, etc) pence, ...
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0answers
92 views
What is so special about the location of Mexico City?
Since 1325, the area we know today as Mexico City has held some sort of cultural or historical bond. The bond is so strong that, no matter what, no matter how bad a shape the country gets, they ...
5
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1answer
69 views
Has a country gone to war to seek payment of a debt since 1900?
Has a country gone to war to seek payment of a debt since 1900? Expansionist policies don't count although use of debt as a justification would be interesting.
15
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2answers
493 views
Has mercantilism ever been successful?
Mercantilism, which includes protectionism, industrial policy, capital controls, and other distortions to trade, is generally viewed by economists today as unsound economic policy. An overwhelming ...
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2answers
604 views
Why is Alexander Hamilton considered the father of modern banking?
I've been hearing the phrase recently that Alexander Hamilton is considered the "father of modern banking", but haven't really come up with any explanation or definition that I can really understand ...
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2answers
394 views
Where did the Romans store their cash?
In the era before banking was invented, where did wealthy Romans store their cash? The emperor probably could store it somewhere in the imperial palace thanks to the Praetorian guard, but what about ...
15
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1answer
139 views
What were tally sticks?
What were tally sticks, and how was it that they they worked for the economy? I understand that they were a form of currency and were of fixed value based on the notches, but how did they work as a ...
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7answers
219 views
First evidence of intercontinental or cross-cultural trade?
Probably this happened several times and maybe even failed and broke up in different regions. What hints and proofs do we have of the earliest succesful intercontinental trade relations? I assume ...
7
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1answer
160 views
How was beer production affected by the war during WW2?
How did the war affect beer production during World War II? This is a follow-up question to this question at Seasoned Advice, which is gathering interesting food-science answers but which are are ...
3
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1answer
215 views
What is the purpose of the bridge to the Russkiy island? [closed]
Russky bridge is a bridge to a sparsely populated Russky island in the Far East whose construction started in 2008 and completed in 2012. It is the world's largest cable-stayed bridge, the 1104 m long ...
3
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1answer
93 views
How easy one could start an artel in USSR after WW2 1945-1956?
During 1956-1960 all artels (cooperative enterprises) were nationalized in USSR. It was a large amount of artels.
How easy was it to organize an artel before that, in the post-war period of ...
7
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1answer
99 views
What surface area per person is required for hunter-gatherers?
I am sure I have read it somewhere, but I can't figure out in which book anymore (I think Steve Pinker's How the Mind Works)
Most of human (pre-)history (and evolution) has happened in a foraging ...
7
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3answers
444 views
How much has U.S. currency inflated since 1792?
How much has U.S. currency inflated since the Coinage Act of 1792 established the U.S. Mint? Adjusting for inflation, what amount of modern currency would have the same buying power as a 1792 dollar?
...
4
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2answers
284 views
World Wars and economic crises?
I don't recall where I heard in an interview or read in an article that there is a causation between economic crises and the two world wars, is there is historical truth in that?
For the second war ...
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3answers
405 views
Gold Confiscation Act of 1933
On March 9, 1933 Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) called Congress in for an emergency session, which would result in the speedy passing of the Gold Confiscation Act. According to FDR's Executive Order ...
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2answers
53 views
Increment of workers in agriculture during periods of economical crisis
Was there an increment of the percent of people working in the agricultural sector during the economical crises of the last couple of centuries?
What are the factors influencing the ratio of farmers?
...
3
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1answer
79 views
When and why China started to make a difference in the superpower arena?
China is starting to be more and more remarked on the superpowers' podium, but this surely didn't happened overnight, so what would be that decade that was very auspicious for China, and why?
6
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1answer
519 views
Which have been the most and least successful Olympics in terms of economic impact?
When discussing the Olympics, politicians are always keen to stress the economic benefits that will flow to the host city. A number of commentators in the media though have suggested that the bulk of ...
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3answers
256 views
First evidence for replacement of barter trade by local abstract currency?
What were the first local currency systems in history we have detailed information on? I dont think it was gold/silver or other hard to produce materials. Probably these became more important ...
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1answer
62 views
Has a country ever used an insurance company as a shield when the economy goes down? [closed]
Has a country ever used an insurance company as a shield when the economy goes down?
I know that insurance companies have tons of money beforehand.
