A History of the World in 100 Objects

Credit card

8 snips
Oct 21, 2010
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INSIGHT

Credit Cards Democratize Bank Credit

  • Credit cards symbolize the democratization of bank credit, once reserved for elites.
  • They represent cash without frontiers, reshaping modern consumer culture globally.
ANECDOTE

Priest-Endorsed IOUs in Argentina

  • After Argentina's financial collapse, villagers used IOUs but sought local priests' endorsement for trust.
  • This showed religion's role in enhancing trust in monetary instruments.
INSIGHT

Credit Cards Track and Empower Banks

  • Credit cards create detailed dossiers tracking global spending, revealing more about consumers than they know.
  • Banks using this technology hold unprecedented global power transcending national boundaries.
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