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A History of Interest Rates

bySidney HomerandRichard Sylla

Sidney Homer and Richard Sylla trace interest rates across thousands of years, from ancient Mesopotamia and classical civilizations to modern bond markets and central banking. The book documents how the price of borrowing has reflected war, inflation, political stability, financial institutions, and changing attitudes toward debt. Its extensive historical data allow readers to compare contemporary rates with much longer cycles rather than treating recent experience as normal. More than a reference work, it shows how credit connects savers, governments, businesses, and households—and how shifts in trust and monetary conditions reshape economies across generations.

Publisher

Wiley

Publication date

1963

Format

Print edition

Pages

640

ISBN

9780471732839