Mary Bridges

Mary Bridges, an Ernest May Fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School, delves into her book, 'Dollars and Dominion,' exploring how U.S. banks unexpectedly shaped global finance. She reveals how banking infrastructure laid the groundwork for U.S. dominance post-World War II, examining the Federal Reserve's pivotal role. The conversation highlights the complex interplay between banking history, U.S. imperialism, and economic power, offering insights into the evolution of financial practices and their contemporary implications.

Mary Bridges, an expert in the history of US finance capitalism, delves into her book about the rise of US banking as an imperial force. She reveals how banking began as a side project for Gilded Age tycoons, evolving into a pivotal tool for projecting US power abroad. Bridges discusses the interplay of local communities with branch banking and how these institutions perpetuated social hierarchies. The conversation also touches on the transition from personal relationships to data-driven credit practices, reflecting on the enduring influence of financial systems on global dynamics.

Mary Bridges, an author and expert on the evolution of US finance capitalism, discusses her book, highlighting the unexpected rise of US banking as a global powerhouse. She reveals how early bankers created a network to assert US influence, blending political power with local innovation. Bridges explores the hierarchies and inequalities that shaped trade finance, with a focus on the International Banking Corporation's ventures in the Philippines. She also examines how banks adapted to cultural challenges and the changes brought by the Great Depression.