"'Big data' is now readily available to economic historians, thanks to the digitisation of primary sources, collaborative research linking different data sets, and the publication of databases on the internet. Key economic indicators, such as the consumer price index, can be tracked over long...

Acknowledgements -- Preface -- Introduction "post fata resurgo" : at the origins of modern finance -- Halcyon days -- Half measures -- The impact of oil -- Full measures -- Wuthering heights -- References