Abstract
In this essay I argue that widespread failure to comprehend the intrinsic nature of modern money loomed large in the recent crisis, and that broader comprehension of its meaning is a precondition for effective post-crisis reforms. First, I provide a brief history of money, emphasizing its gradual divergence from inherent value. I then consider the value of today’s dollar in economic, legal and psychological terms, arguing that each perspective conveys a single over-arching lesson—that better comprehending our money requires better comprehending ourselves. The introspection that this exercise demands reveals with unique clarity some of the critical lessons of the crisis and its aftermath
Repository Citation
Christopher M. Bruner,
The Changing Face of Money
, 30 Rev. Banking & Fin. L. 383
(2010),
Available at: https://digitalcommons.law.uga.edu/fac_artchop/1201