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The Story of Money

The Story of Money

Does history show that fraud is the sign of a healthy economy?

Sep 23, 2026 · 46m

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How do you tell if an economy is actually working? Most economics classes point to controlled inflation, steady growth, or low unemployment - but what if the level of financial fraud is the real hidden indicator? Robin Wigglesworth and Gillian Tett talk to Dan Davies, financial historian and author of Lying for Money , to hear about some of the wildest and most shocking frauds in history. From 'the great salad oil swindle,' which almost brought down American Express to a fake gold mine in Borneo that ended with a mysterious fall from a helicopter. Together they explore how trust drives modern economies - and how fraudsters continuously exploit it. Further reading: Lying for Money: How…