A history of interest
Date
2011
Authors
Palmer, Daniel Dwight, author
Bernasek, Alexandra, advisor
Vasudevan, Ramaa, committee member
McCulloch, Michael L., committee member
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
A History of Interest uses methods inspired by the work of Michel Foucault to uncover institutional aspects of credit and debt. It explores three hypotheses and covers the period 1290-1914. During this period, Anglo-American society went from a system of debt conscription and usury restrictions in the Middle Ages to a system of voluntary bankruptcy and credit reporting by the late 19th century. This thesis explains how that transition occurred. Situating these changes in Foucault's notion of disciplinary writing, it also suggests what that transition means for the modern world.
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Subject
bankruptcy
credit reporting
debtor's prison
debt peonage
Foucault
usury