Money, Politics and Power

This book examines one of the most famous economic-policy episodes in British history, offering an entirely novel and very sophisticated account. It explains key monetary and financial institutions in a highly accessible way, builds a novel interpretation of the creation and early years of the Bank of England from previously undiscovered archival data, shows who stood to benefit, and how, from the many innovations in money, banking and public finance being proposed by contemporary entrepreneurs and illustrates how knowing the financial constraints and objectives of government is essential for understanding the stakes and outcome of legislation pertaining to money and banking.