Benn Steil is senior fellow and director of international economics, Council on Foreign Relations, and founding editor of the journal International Finance. Manuel Hinds is a business and government consultant and former fellow, Council on Foreign Relations. He has twice served as minister of finance in El Salvador.

"'Stimulating reading. Thoughtful and well written, bringing new perspectives.' Otmar Issing, first Chief Economist, European Central Bank 'Steil and Hinds have written a revelatory historical essay on the relationship between money and the state, emphasizing that from the very origins of coinage, rulers sought to establish and exploit monopolies over currencies. This, more than anything else, helps to explain the many inflations and other monetary disruptions in history. At a time when a global financial crisis is revealing the limits of state control over the money that banks create, this is a timely and original contribution.' Niall Ferguson, Laurence A. Tisch Professor of History, Harvard University, and author of The Ascent of Money 'This book is an important analysis of the roles of money and sovereignty in advancing globalization and its positive effects on living standards. Particularly in this era of political skepticism over gains from globalization, Steil and Hinds have written an essential text for our new leaders and those who advise them.' Glenn Hubbard, Dean and Russell L. Carson Professor of Finance and Economics, Columbia Business School"

Benn Steil is senior fellow and director of international economics, Council on Foreign Relations, and founding editor of the journal International Finance. Manuel Hinds is a business and government consultant and former fellow, Council on Foreign Relations. He has twice served as minister of finance in El Salvador.

"'Stimulating reading. Thoughtful and well written, bringing new perspectives.' Otmar Issing, first Chief Economist, European Central Bank 'Steil and Hinds have written a revelatory historical essay on the relationship between money and the state, emphasizing that from the very origins of coinage, rulers sought to establish and exploit monopolies over currencies. This, more than anything else, helps to explain the many inflations and other monetary disruptions in history. At a time when a global financial crisis is revealing the limits of state control over the money that banks create, this is a timely and original contribution.' Niall Ferguson, Laurence A. Tisch Professor of History, Harvard University, and author of The Ascent of Money 'This book is an important analysis of the roles of money and sovereignty in advancing globalization and its positive effects on living standards. Particularly in this era of political skepticism over gains from globalization, Steil and Hinds have written an essential text for our new leaders and those who advise them.' Glenn Hubbard, Dean and Russell L. Carson Professor of Finance and Economics, Columbia Business School"

Benn Steil is senior fellow and director of international economics, Council on Foreign Relations, and founding editor of the journal International Finance. Manuel Hinds is a business and government consultant and former fellow, Council on Foreign Relations. He has twice served as minister of finance in El Salvador.

"'Stimulating reading. Thoughtful and well written, bringing new perspectives.' Otmar Issing, first Chief Economist, European Central Bank 'Steil and Hinds have written a revelatory historical essay on the relationship between money and the state, emphasizing that from the very origins of coinage, rulers sought to establish and exploit monopolies over currencies. This, more than anything else, helps to explain the many inflations and other monetary disruptions in history. At a time when a global financial crisis is revealing the limits of state control over the money that banks create, this is a timely and original contribution.' Niall Ferguson, Laurence A. Tisch Professor of History, Harvard University, and author of The Ascent of Money 'This book is an important analysis of the roles of money and sovereignty in advancing globalization and its positive effects on living standards. Particularly in this era of political skepticism over gains from globalization, Steil and Hinds have written an essential text for our new leaders and those who advise them.' Glenn Hubbard, Dean and Russell L. Carson Professor of Finance and Economics, Columbia Business School"