Kindleberger and the 21st Century

Charles P. Kindleberger ranks as one of the 20th century's best known and most influential international economists. How has his work impacted economic understanding in the 21st century?

Two new books - Money and Empire: Charles P. Kindleberger and the Dollar System by Perry Mehrling and the eighth edition of Manias, Panics and Crashes co-authored by Robert N. McCauley - expand on Kindleberger’s legacy in the 21st century era. Money and Empire is both a biography of the man and the US dollar. It traces the evolution of Kindleberger’s thinking in the context of a “key-currency” approach to the rise of the dollar system and follows the transformation of the dollar system, as seen through the eyes of Kindleberger.

Since 1978, Manias, Panics and Crashes has tracked financial crises through time, from ‘Tulipmania’ in the 17th century to the more recent 2008 global financial crisis. Now, in the latest update of Kindleberger’s renowned work, McCauley draws on his central banking experience to introduce new chapters on cryptocurrency and the United States as the 21st century global lender of last resort. He also gives new attention to the social psychology that leads people to take the risk of investing in Ponzi schemes and asset price bubbles.

On Wednesday, June 7 from 9:00 - 10:00 AM EDT, join the Boston University Global Development Policy Center for a webinar discussion featuring two experts, Perry Mehrling and Robert N. McCauley, on their latest books and what Kindleberger’s legacy is today.

Speakers:

- Perry Mehrling, Professor, International Political Economy, Boston University

- Robert N. McCauley, Non-Resident Senior Research Fellow, Global Economic Governance Initiative, Boston University Global Development Policy Center

- Lara Merling (moderator), Boston University Global Development Policy Center