This paper presents a historical investigation of usury in the context of the development of credit activities. The definition of usury and the attitudes towards usury changed multiple times over the centuries. We focus on the 12th to the 14th centuries and the changes in the operating, economic...

The trial and conviction of seven public officials in L’Aquila, central Italy, for having allegedly given out misleading and incorrect information to the public before the 6 April 2009 earthquake has proved to be one of the most momentous developments of recent times in science and disaster...

In this comment, I reply to criticisms of my article on the trial of seven defendants accused of providing the public with misleading information shortly before the L’Aquila, central Italy, earthquake of 6 April 2009. Copyright The Author(s) 2015