Political Instability as a Commercial Risk in 19th-Century Latin America
Newly independent Latin American republics spent much of the 19th century cycling through civil wars and caudillo rule —...
Incidents
Commentary, explainers, and curated reading notes
FEATURED • IncidentsThe French Revolution's Economic Roots — and Its Commercial Shockwaves
France's royal debt, an inequitable tax system, and a subsistence crisis converged in 1789 to produce revolution — and the quarter-century of war that followed reshaped trade and credit conditions across the entire Mediterranean.
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Port Closures in History: When Politics Shut Down Trade Overnight
Closing a port has always been one of the fastest ways for a state to project power or punish an enemy — and, for mercha...
When the Ruler Changes, the Contract Changes: Succession and Revolution as Commercial Risk
Before written constitutions and independent courts were the norm, a merchant's contracts, debts and privileges often re...