World Gold Hoarding explores how the massive accumulation of gold reserves during the interwar period intensified the Great Depression.
Challenging conventional narratives, the book posits that widespread gold hoarding by central banks and individuals significantly restricted the global money supply, exacerbating deflation and economic stagnation.
The book reveals that anxieties about currency stability and geopolitical risks drove this hoarding, highlighting the limitations of the gold standard during times of uncertainty.
One intriguing insight is how the actions of major central banks, like the Federal Reserve and the Bank of France, to stockpile gold had ripple effects on global liquidity, contributing to a monetary crisis.
The book adopts a scholarly yet accessible tone, using primary sources, statistical data, and econometric techniques to support its claims.
It begins by contextualizing the gold standard, then progresses to analyze the policies of major central banks and the resulting consequences of gold hoarding, such as reduced investment and increased unemployment.
By examining the interconnectedness of the international monetary system, World Gold Hoarding provides a comprehensive understanding of the economic landscape of the 1930s and offers valuable insights for contemporary monetary policy and financial stability.
