The “Mark Banco”: Lessons From a Free Market in Money (1619-1873)

12:30-13:00: Sandwich lunch

13:00-14:00: Presentation and Discussion

About the Discussion

The talk is about a very successful, highly instructive free market in money episode, with the silver-backed "Mark Banco" serving as a sound unit of account for around 250 years.

About the Speaker

​Dr Thorsten Polleit is Honorary Professor of Economics at the University of Bayreuth, Germany. He worked as an economist for more than 15 years in the international investment banking industry. From 2012 to 2023 he was chief economist and board member of Europe’s largest precious metal trading house. Thorsten is Adjunct Scholar of the Ludwig von Mises Institute, Auburn, US Alabama, and founder and President of the Ludwig von Mises Institut Deutschland, Germany. He is publisher of Dr. Polleit's BOOM & BUST REPORT.

About the Series

This will be the next instalment in our monthly Food for Thought series, hosted in partnership with the Vinson Centre at the University of Buckingham. The purpose of this series is to foster high-level academic discussion on themes within the classical liberal tradition, touching on economics, philosophy, history, law, and related disciplines. In turn, we hope to form a community of academics, policymakers, professionals, and students united by the exchange of ideas and life-long learning.