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Forging Capitalism: Rogues, Swindlers, Frauds and the Rise of Modern Finance (Yale Series in Economic and Financial History)
Forging Capitalism Rogues Swindlers Frauds and the Rise of Modern Finance - Yale Series in Economic and Financial History Author:Ian Klaus Vice is the true father of Western capitalism, according to Ian Klaus in this fascinating, wildly entertaining, and often startling history of modern finance. Rather than the noble pursuit of gentlemen, international financial affairs in the nineteenth century were conducted in large part, the author suggests, by connivers, thieves, swindlers, a... more »nd frauds who believed that no risk was too great and no scheme too outrageous if the monetary reward was substantial enough. Taken together, these grand deceptions and the determined efforts made to guard against them were instrumental in creating the financial establishments of today.
In a story teeming with playboys and scoundrels and rich in colorful, often incredible events, Klaus chronicles the evolution of trust institutions through three distinct incarnations: those constructed around values, those constructed around networks and reputations, and, ultimately, those constructed around skepticism, technology, and verification. In an age when the questionable dealings of gargantuan international monetary organizations are continually in the spotlight, this extraordinary history has great relevance, offering essential lessons on both the importance and the limitations of trust in today?s world.« less