In this paper we propose and test a new explanation of bank behavior during the Free Banking Era, 1837-1863. Arguing against the conventional view that free bank failures were due to wildcat banking, we claim they were caused by falling asset prices. Confronting both explanations with our new and detailed data set developed from state auditor reports, we find that the falling asset price explanation of free bank failures explains far more failures than does the wildcatting hypothesis.
We establish several facts about medieval monetary debasements: they were followed by unusually large minting volumes and by increased seigniorage; old and new coins circulated concurrently; and, at least some of the time, coins were valued by weight. These facts constitute a puzzle because debasements provide no additional inducements to bring coins to the mint. On theoretical and empirical grounds, we reject explanations based on by-tale circulation, nominal contracts, and sluggish price adjustment. We conclude that debasements pose a challenge to monetary economics.
This publication primarily presents economic research ai med at improving policymaking by the Federal Reserve System and other governmental authorities.
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