Finance & History

Carmen Hofmann

The eabh Podcast. Looking for precedents from the exciting world of financial history. We follow money through time and space. We encourage independent research, encourage open debate and value archives. Follow us on: www.bankinghistory.org Read less

  1. Consumer Credit in Turkey

    2 jun

    Consumer Credit in Turkey

    In this episode, Carmen Hofmann (eabh) speaks with M. Fatih Karakaya (Istanbul University) about the historical development of consumer finance in Turkey from the early Republic to the present day. Drawing on archival research, they explore how instalment payments, retailer credit, and bank-led lending evolved within Turkey's distinctive economic and political context. Far from simply importing Anglo-American credit card models, Turkey built on a long tradition of "buy now, pay later" practices that stretched from Ottoman-era Singer sewing machines to the instalment plans of major household appliance manufacturers. The conversation examines how these historical legacies shaped modern consumer finance, what makes the Turkish experience unique, and what it can teach us about credit markets more broadly.

    36 min.
  2. Risk. Information. Noise

    27 apr

    Risk. Information. Noise

    Did bankers understand uncertainty better before financial models? In this episode we explore a question at the heart of finance: what is risk, really? Long before VaR models, stress tests, and algorithmic finance, bankers managed uncertainty through reputation, relationships, and social trust. Were they naïve—or were they, in some ways, more realistic than we are? In this episode of Finance & History, Carmen Hofmann speaks with economic historian Monika Pohle Fraser about how nineteenth-century French and German bankers managed risk before modern models existed. Drawing on archival evidence, the conversation explores a provocative idea: that trust, reputation, and social judgment often mattered more than quantitative information—and may still do today. From universal banking and bourgeois honor to AI-driven finance, the episode asks whether modern risk management is built on better information… or simply more sophisticated fictions of certainty.

    40 min.
  3. Hitler’s Debt

    18-11-2025

    Hitler’s Debt

    How post-war finance remade Europe. In this episode, host Carmen Hofmann speaks with historian Tobias Straumann about his book Hitler’s Debt and the financial decisions that shaped Europe’s post-war recovery. We explore how settling Hitler’s unresolved debts, the 1953 London Debt Agreement, and bold U.S. policy choices helped turn a devastated continent into the “economic miracle” of the 1950s. Straumann explains why debt relief strengthened democracy, how leaders like Adenauer, Acheson, Schuman, Ben-Gurion and Sharett navigated moral and political dilemmas, and what the German case can teach us about today’s global debt crises. A concise look at how financial strategy, diplomacy, and compromise built the foundations of modern Europe — and why those foundations matter now more than ever.

    41 min.
  4. Histories of Finance and Politics

    01-09-2025

    Histories of Finance and Politics

    Hugo Bänziger (Chairman of eabh) and Manfred Pohl (founder of eabh) come together for a rare conversation between two of the most experienced banking historians. They explore key milestones in Germany’s financial history after World War II, highlighting the crucial role of rebuilding the financial system as the foundation for national recovery. Their discussion also uncovers historical patterns—from the strategic eastward moves of emperors to Western Europe’s enduring quest for oil. Both experts emphasize a central point: just as nations must confront their histories—whether bright or dark—so too must companies face their past with honesty and precision if they wish to build a credible future. 🎧 Tune in (in German) for this unparalleled insight into finance, history, and memory.

    31 min.
  5. Capital in Banking

    07-07-2025

    Capital in Banking

    Capital Matters: Banking, Risk, and History In this episode, Carmen Hofmann (eabh) speaks with Simon Amrein (Lucerne) about the role of capital in banking—past and present. They explore how banks have historically been funded, whether excessive leverage has made them fragile, and whether more capital really makes banks safer. The conversation touches on the functions and forms of capital, the trade-offs between safety and efficiency, and how capital helps prevent bank runs. They also reflect on how the post-WWII effort to rebuild economies reshaped global attitudes toward financial risk and regulation.

    39 min.
  6. Single Currency

    25-06-2025

    Single Currency

    In this episode of 'Finance and History', Hugo Bänziger talks to Olli Rehn, Governor of the Bank of Finland, at the eabh annual conference. Together, they unpack the euro’s historic roots, from the Latin Monetary Union to today’s Economic and Monetary Union. Rehn shares insider insights on the euro’s creation, its crises, and the lessons learned along the way. The conversation also tackles central bank evolution, fiscal discipline, and Europe’s unfinished integration journey. An engaging deep dive into the intersection of financial history and contemporary policy challenges.

    36 min.
  7. Capitalism, Populism, Democracy

    21-05-2025

    Capitalism, Populism, Democracy

    In this episode, we dive into how rising populism is reshaping capitalism and democracy. With Stefan Hofrichter (AllianzGI) Hans-Jörg Naumer (Allianz GI)—authors of Capitalism, Populism and Democracy— and Carmen Hofmann (eabh) we unpack the economic roots of today’s populist surge, its historical parallels, and what it means for markets, growth, and inequality. They connect past crises to current trends, revealing how financial history helps unpack the impact of past populist regimes on economic growth and investor behavior—lessons that matter now more than ever.

    40 min.
  8. Canvas and Capital

    16-04-2025

    Canvas and Capital

    Is art a safe investment in times of war? In this episode, Kim Oosterlinck (General Director of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium) and Carmen Hofmann (eabh) dive into the little-known yet fascinating world of the German art market during World War II. This new research reveals that Germany itself as much as the occupied territories experienced a surprising wartime art boom. Using fresh data, the study uncovers how artworks became a discreet yet powerful investment amid economic uncertainty and Nazi regulation. From black market dynamics to the fate of so-called “degenerate art,” we unpack how paintings turned into both cultural and financial assets. Tune in for a compelling look at how war reshaped the value of art—and what it tells us about crisis economies.

    23 min.
Bekijk alles (55)

Info

The eabh Podcast. Looking for precedents from the exciting world of financial history. We follow money through time and space. We encourage independent research, encourage open debate and value archives. Follow us on: www.bankinghistory.org Read less

Informatie

  • Maker
    Carmen Hofmann
  • Jaren actief
    2021 - 2026
  • Afleveringen
    55
  • Beoordeling
    Veilig
  • Copyright
    © Carmen Hofmann
  • Website van aflevering
    Finance & History

Suggesties voor jou