Capitals of Capital: A History of International Financial Centres, 1780-2005

by Youssef Cassis, Youssef Cassis

This is the first history of international financial centres and of the major stake that they now represent in the global economy. Youssef Cassis, one of the world's leading financial historians, provides a fascinating comparative history of the most important centres that constitute the capitals of capital - New York, London, Frankfurt, Paris, Zurich, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore. The book explores the dynamics of the rise and decline of these great centres from the beginning of the industrial age up to the present, setting them in their economic, political, social and cultural context and drawing on concepts from financial economics in its analysis of events. This paperback edition has been fully updated to take account of the challenges posed by the financial collapse of 2007-8 and offers the longer-term framework necessary to understand the crisis gripping capitals of capital today.

Genres: Finance, History, Economics

408 pages, Hardcover

Published January 22, 2007

Reviews

[M Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very competent narrative of the development of the various capital centers (centres) around the world. And the translation is excellent. However, there is remarkably little analysis of what factors are more critical than others in enabling some centers to outpace others. And that's important.