Understand how money, credit, and prices shape markets .
This classic work explains how not just money, but credit and expectations drive the prices of goods, and how financial behavior can lead to booms and busts.
The book examines the spread of credit as a substitute for money, the way purchasing power grows with credit, and how waves of speculation can push prices beyond fundamentals. It also describes the mechanics of exchanges, clearinghouses, and the broader forces that influence the cost of goods and the behavior of merchants and lenders. You’ll gain a clearer picture of the dynamics behind price movements, banking, and the risks that accompany rapid changes in credit.
What you’ll experience
- A clear framework for how credit affects demand and prices, beyond physical money
- Plain-language explanations of banking functions and exchange mechanisms
- Discussions of speculation, market crises, and the real-world consequences for lenders and buyers
- Historical context on how financial ideas shape policy and economic thinking
Ideal for readers of history, political economy, and anyone seeking a foundational view of money, credit, and prices in economic life.