Additional information
by Vincent Lannoye (Author)
(UPDATED FEBRUARY 2025)
Economics, the cornerstone of politics
Economic forces shape every government decision-and understanding them starts with the monetary system, the bedrock of economics.
The History of Money for Understanding Economics offers an accessible journey through the evolution of money, from ancient coins to modern finance. It reveals how shifts in currency have driven pivotal moments in history, from the fall of the Roman Empire to World War II and beyond.
This book tackles essential questions: Where did money come from? What gives paper currency its value? Why did gold coins vanish? What is inflation, and what role does the International Monetary Fund (IMF) play in today's economy? Can the United States sustain its trade deficit-and what does it mean for the world?
A monetary solution, rather than a political one
Looking ahead, Lannoye challenges readers to consider a bold idea: could an innovative monetary system help reduce inequality and accelerate the shift toward sustainability? He proposes a complementary monetary framework designed to promote fairer income distribution while funding the rise of a parallel green economy.
Author Biography
Vincent Lannoye was born in the US and grew up in Belgium in an industrial family, which sparked his curiosity to analyze and critique economics and politics. An engineer with an MBA from Edhec France, today he works in high-tech in Silicon Valley. His past, his passion for history, the lack of works explaining money and banks, and his monetary ideas, all have inspired him to write about economics.
