The Economic Consequences of the Peace

Our modern financial architecture is largely based on the views of John Maynard Keynes, unarguably the most influential economist of the modern era. To fully understand it one must be aware of the turmoil from which it arose. Keynes represented Britain in negotiations of the Treaty of Versailles, and the Treaty's dismissal of his ideas for favorable terms for Germany in part lead to further turmoil and eventually another war. Understanding Keyne's views and their formation in the wake of World War One are crucial to fully understanding the theoretical foundations of Bretton Woods and the entire the post World War II global financial system.