The Descent of Finance

Niall Ferguson, Harvard professor, discusses the history — and future — of finance with Harvard Business Review editor-in-chief Adi Ignatius.

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25 Comments

1.   1888junkteam   |  Saturday, 13 February 2010 at 1:03 pm

   excellent work!

   
2.   Nuanceqwest   |  Saturday, 13 February 2010 at 1:56 pm

   Human beings have advanced so much. What’s to say that we cannot do it in future.

   Sure we could have another 10-50 years of hardship but mankind will rise again. No one can take away, as far as I can see, the techonological gains we have made and we will build on that.

   Mankind will live better in 100 years than they do now.

   
3.   shovland   |  Saturday, 13 February 2010 at 2:12 pm

   Why does anyone think that infinite growth is possible on a finite planet?

   
4.   mathproof   |  Saturday, 13 February 2010 at 2:29 pm

   Niall is a great intellect. I really appreciate his work. I just purchase the “Ascent of Money.” I’m looking forware to getting started with it.

   
5.   Moionfire   |  Saturday, 13 February 2010 at 3:10 pm

   God, Niall Ferguson is a hot man…

   
6.   conceil8   |  Saturday, 13 February 2010 at 3:48 pm

   .

   I warned you Christians, the kingdom of God is about to take over this world, prepare yourself, be holy, be like Christ.

   .

   
7.   blarson1   |  Saturday, 13 February 2010 at 4:20 pm

   You don’t agree with modern economic thought? Great. What exactly don’t you agree with and why? Maybe you have a unique idea of your own that we can all benefit from. However, until you learn how to express yourself on a point by point basis few will listen to what you have to say. Your sweeping generalizations about academic elite do absolutely nothing to change public perception.

   Its real easy to sit behind a computer and flame. Its also real cowardly.

   
8.   completeliar   |  Saturday, 13 February 2010 at 4:51 pm

   hey cani8gr8fag8, that’s exactly what i said when i fucked your ugly mum in the arse. Sucked in. Just returning the compliment Paki.

   
9.   Gr8Candid8   |  Saturday, 13 February 2010 at 5:17 pm

   I came, I saw, I left in boredom.

   
10.   fdlbeats   |  Saturday, 13 February 2010 at 5:24 pm

    its just imaginary, metaphoric symbolism. Pass me another beer.

    
11.   TheTopBloke   |  Saturday, 13 February 2010 at 5:33 pm

    No need to apologize, just elaborate on your point. Nouriel Roubini from NYU made a good call on it. Ferguson is a historian with a wealth of insight. Guys like Rogers and Soros and Schiff aren’t the average financial planner.There are economic theories from different schools. Most of the world these days operates on a Keynesian system.

    
12.   shaylo2006   |  Saturday, 13 February 2010 at 6:30 pm

    I apologize to you on a personal level. On an esoteric level I believe you would agree with me,(maybe not the bolvin heads)

    
13.   TheTopBloke   |  Saturday, 13 February 2010 at 7:28 pm

    Mhmmm, and I’m sure you’re a genius that knows everything.

    
14.   directorwvp2   |  Saturday, 13 February 2010 at 8:06 pm

    becasue they wish to steal, plunder and destroy us.

    You don’t enlighten the slave to the fact he’s enslvaed … you merely enslave him without him knowing or suspecting it.

    
15.   shaylo2006   |  Saturday, 13 February 2010 at 8:50 pm

    Recent history shows us that the”higher education elite” within the economic circles are MORONS! They are infatuated with abstract thought as the world speeds by them,spinning their big dumb bolvin heads,the dismal science?..HA HA!…no way! Its not science.

    
16.   budb11   |  Saturday, 13 February 2010 at 9:10 pm

    Why hasn’t the American edcuctional system taught economics and finance to our students? For example, how the Federal Reserve system works, ie fractional banking concepts or debt as money?

    
17.   PointlessVideos4Life   |  Saturday, 13 February 2010 at 9:27 pm

    I came.

    
18.   juice797   |  Saturday, 13 February 2010 at 10:13 pm

    Niall is a moron.

    
19.   underground24020   |  Saturday, 13 February 2010 at 10:38 pm

    Adi you wont return my phonecalls…you left your cockring in my car…call me!

    
20.   thetaxwizards   |  Saturday, 13 February 2010 at 11:26 pm

    We all need some kind of optimism during the recession. I believe I can alleviate your financial stress through 0% tax planning. View my videos free on You Tube or buy the dvd.

    
21.   CorisDavis913   |  Saturday, 13 February 2010 at 11:31 pm

    I stand corrected.

    
22.   imangrynow   |  Sunday, 14 February 2010 at 12:03 am

    No he has a Scottish accent!

    
23.   icandevelopment   |  Sunday, 14 February 2010 at 12:04 am

    ican grow people – can you – click on us to see.

    
24.   001Dixie   |  Sunday, 14 February 2010 at 12:36 am

    An objective and articulate response from Niall Ferguson. As bad as things may seem, we truly need to count our blessings, for we are in a far more fortuitous position than that of our ancestors during the Great Depression of the 1930s. If anything we honestly do not, comparatively speaking, know what suffering means; the people of the “Great Depression” suffered!

    
25.   CorisDavis913   |  Sunday, 14 February 2010 at 12:46 am

    Ah he has an English accent so he MUST be an expert.