Our Methodology
Source Selection
Articles draw primarily from academic journals, central bank publications, contemporaneous accounts, and established historical works. We prioritize sources that are publicly accessible and can be independently verified, including publications from the NBER, BIS, and major university presses.
Citation Standards
Factual claims cite their sources inline. Where the original source is available online, we link to it directly so readers can verify claims themselves. When citing paywalled or archival material, we provide enough bibliographic detail for readers to locate the source through a library or database.
Historical Context
Financial events are presented within their economic, political, and social context rather than in isolation. We aim to explain not just what happened, but the conditions that made it possible and the consequences that followed. This approach avoids reducing complex events to simple cause-and-effect narratives.
Quantitative Data
Price data, economic indicators, and statistical figures are sourced from established databases including FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data), the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and national statistical agencies. We note the original source and date range for all quantitative claims.
Limitations
Historical financial data is imperfect. Records may be incomplete, methodologies change over time, and scholars sometimes disagree on basic facts. Where significant uncertainty or scholarly disagreement exists, we note it explicitly rather than presenting one interpretation as settled fact.
See also our Editorial Policy and About.