Brooke Harrington, a Professor of Economic Sociology at Dartmouth, dives into the murky waters of offshore finance, revealing its global repercussions and moral dilemmas. She shares her firsthand research experiences in tax havens, questioning the cost of secrecy in an unequal world. Joining her is Guido Alfani, an Economic History Professor at Bocconi University, who unravels the precarious history of the super-rich over a millennium. Together, they ponder how societal views of wealth have evolved and what that means for accountability today.

Guido Alfani, the author of 'As Gods Among Men: A History of the Rich in the West,' discusses the behaviors of the rich in Western history, their impact on society, and public attitudes towards wealth. Alfani's book offers a unique perspective on wealth accumulation and inequality, drawing insights from historical data and exploring the nuances of riches over time. The podcast also delves into the challenges of writing a book as an early career researcher and the complexities of wealth distribution in Western cultures.