The Ascent of Money (2009)
Channel 4

Description

In this six-part documentary respected author, journalist and lecturer Professor Niall Ferguson examines the dynamic role of money as he takes you on an epic tour of the financial world. A professor in History and Business Administration at Harvard University - as well as an author of numerous books and a commentator on contemporary politics and economics Ferguson explains how finance rose to play such a terrifyingly dominant role in all our lives.

This beautifully shot documentary covers a broad spectrum of economic history from the 14th Century right up to the present day. But are you in on the secret? Do you really understand what causes a bank run, an inflationary meltdown or a stock market crash? Can you tell a sub-prime from a prime loan?Only with this historical perspective can one understand the essential truth about finance.

Tags

2000s, Economy, Finance

Collected reviews and ratings

9.0 Amazon (UK) user reviews

This is an accessible and extremely useful series which popped up at just the right moment to help unravel exactly what's been going on with the worldwide money markets. The presentation is clear, concise and occasionally witty, and has really helped us to get to grips with the mysteries of the modern money machine.
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8.0 Times Online | Tim Teeman

Ferguson suggested that China’s gross domestic product may exceed America’s by 2027, at which point might China perhaps cut off its credit line to the States? If it did, might conflict over money lead to war?
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7.0 Los Angeles Times | Mary McNamara

While there are lovely tidbits to be gleaned from this crash course in the origins of banking, the transition is a little jarring. Indeed, "The Ascent of Money" too often feels like what it is -- an abbreviated, cobbled-together version of a larger work. [Note. Review refers to shortened two-hour PBS broadcast.]
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7.0 Daily Mirror | Jane Simon

Eventually, though, Ferguson does arrive at the present day as he explains why Americans' God-given right to file for bankruptcy has plunged the rest of us into a giant financial pickle.
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6.0 The Independent | Nick Clark

It makes for compelling viewing for economic beginners, and it's also worth a look for those who already work in and around finance. But occasionally it feels as if the subject matter is just a bit too big to fit comfortably into six hours.
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