How Inflation Destroyed the Roman Empire

Posted on by

There were many reasons the Roman Empire fell but, inflation and government spending were huge parts.  Government stimulus programs and public works became common then as they are today.  People today underestimate the complexity of the Roman Empire but, their bureaucracy was almost as large as ours today.  Aqueducts were often created to give people employment just like “The Community Reinvestment Act” seeks to do today.  I find this interesting on many different levels.  For one, Rome’s policies were very similar to ours today.  They even had similar names like jobs bill and community reinvestment act.    There is a book written in the 1940s called the “New Deal in Old Rome” that compares Roman governance in the later Empire to New Deal programs.  The parallels are almost bizarre.

Then, just like today, government bureaucracy and spending were only part of the problem, the much bigger problem was inflation.  Inflation was rampant and brought the Empire to its knees.  The rates of inflation increased over time at a similar rate to that at which the United States is currently.

 

What is really staggering is that the Roman Empire’s fiscal transgressions are nothing compared to the modern United States’.  Rome had to dilute its coins by recalling them every few years and watering them down with other metals, while the U.S. can simply print bills of credit to infinity with no checks in place at all.  Nero would be envious indeed of the American State’s monetary power.  Rome also centralized everything into its capital city and attempted to regulate its provinces from afar but, again this is nothing compared to the centralization that Washington DC has been able to accomplish.  For all the corruption that infected the Roman government, it is tame compared to the corruption of the American Political Class. Here is a brief presentation on Roman Inflation.

This one is a bit longer.

 

 

23,272 thoughts on “How Inflation Destroyed the Roman Empire”

  8. Very great post. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I’ve truly enjoyed
    browsing your weblog posts. After all I will be subscribing for your feed and I hope you write once more
    soon!

    Reply ↓

  9. Hello! I know this is kinda off topic but I’d figured I’d ask.
    Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest authoring
    a blog post or vice-versa? My website discusses a lot of the same subjects as yours and I believe we could greatly benefit from each other.

    If you’re interested feel free to send me an email. I look forward to hearing from
    you! Great blog by the way!

    Reply ↓

  18. Hi, Neat post. There’s a problem together with your web site in internet explorer, may test this?

    IE nonetheless is the market leader and a good
    component of people will omit your great writing due to this problem.

    Reply ↓

  21. excellent put up, very informative. I ponder why the opposite specialists of this sector do not understand this.
    You must proceed your writing. I am confident,
    you’ve a huge readers’ base already!

    Reply ↓

  32. Pretty component of content. I just stumbled upon your web site and in accession capital to assert that I acquire actually loved account your blog posts.
    Any way I’ll be subscribing on your augment and even I fulfillment you access
    persistently fast.

    Reply ↓

  36. Today, I went to the beach with my kids. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4
    year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell to her ear and
    screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched
    her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is completely off topic but I had to tell someone!

    Reply ↓

  41. I have learn some excellent stuff here. Definitely price bookmarking for revisiting.
    I wonder how so much effort you place to make this sort of excellent informative
    website.

    Reply ↓

  42. Your style is so unique in comparison to other people
    I’ve read stuff from. Thanks for posting when you’ve
    got the opportunity, Guess I’ll just book mark this page.

    Reply ↓

  43. Hi there! This blog post could not be written any better!
    Looking at this post reminds me of my previous roommate!
    He constantly kept talking about this. I am going to
    send this post to him. Fairly certain he’ll have a good read.
    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply ↓

  45. Hmm it appears like your website ate my first comment (it was
    super long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I wrote and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog.
    I as well am an aspiring blog writer but I’m still new to the whole thing.

    Do you have any helpful hints for beginner blog writers?

    I’d genuinely appreciate it.

    Reply ↓

  50. I do believe all of the ideas you’ve introduced on your post.
    They’re really convincing and can definitely work. Still, the posts
    are very brief for beginners. May just you please lengthen them a bit from subsequent time?
    Thank you for the post.

    Reply ↓

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *