Episode Details

The history of bank runs and fractional reserve banking begins with a murderer/economist who lends a little help to the King of France. After the bank runs, John Law ran for the border. Nowadays, the Federal Reserve steps in to save the whole larcenous system . . . over and over and over again. But what does this do to the national character when irresponsible, feckless, unscrupulous, fractional-reserve banks fail, after which they are rescued by the federal government (which is tied up into the same thieving scheme)?