Crises and Turning Points

Suppose the global economic and financial crisis has a silver lining. In that case, it is that recent events have heightened awareness among policymakers and the general public of the importance of economic history. Crises – economic, financial, social, demographic, environmental, and political, to name only a few – are hardly perennial. Understanding their history is essential to understand what, if anything, is distinctive about the recent experience. The history of crises continues to be studied from several perspectives: in terms of their causes and their consequences, in terms of their changing incidence, in terms of their short-term impact, and their longer-term implications for the development of economies and societies. This conference seeks to bring together scholars engaged in research on these various dimensions of crises and their implications.