Story of Weimar Hyperinflation

frattyquant · November 14th, 2011, 7:14 am

Hi I'm looking for a short overview of the Weimar episode - what exactly happened and an opinion on why in about 20 pages or so. Any suggestions? Thanks!

ahew · November 14th, 2011, 8:04 am

A bit longer than the 20 pages you are requesting, but I can really recommend the factual "When Money Dies: The Nightmare of the Weimar Hyper-Inflation" by Adam Fergusson. I read it in less than a day.For a more personal account of how 1 family lived through the ensuing economic collapse, "Little man, what now?" by Hans Fallada is highly recommended (by various people ... I haven't read it yet).

frattyquant · November 14th, 2011, 10:03 am

QuoteOriginally posted by: ahewA bit longer than the 20 pages you are requesting, but I can really recommend the factual "When Money Dies: The Nightmare of the Weimar Hyper-Inflation" by Adam Fergusson. I read it in less than a day.For a more personal account of how 1 family lived through the ensuing economic collapse, "Little man, what now?" by Hans Fallada is highly recommended (by various people ... I haven't read it yet).Yeah everyone's recommending that book, maybe I should pick up a copy.

ppauper · November 14th, 2011, 10:22 am

you think bernanke is going down that road ?

frattyquant · November 14th, 2011, 10:46 am

QuoteOriginally posted by: ppauperyou think bernanke is going down that road ?Who knows? I just want to understand what the German's are so afraid of.

ahew · November 14th, 2011, 12:28 pm

It's all in the 1st book Almost civil war, anarchy, money printing, breakdown of civil society. I'm paraphrasing, but these quotes just stuck with me:- better a prostitute in the family than dead children (ie, that was the only way to prevent your family from starving)- a middle aged man, bachelor, no children of his own or relatives with children; when he was paid he wanted to spend the money as fast as possible ... so he bought stackloads of childrens nappies, these being the only tangible good in the shop that he could buy at that moment