https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edict_on_Maximum_Prices

From Polanyi, Finley, and Weber to Austin and Malkin, we've come a long way in recognizing the sophistication of ancient economic thought.

Considering how necessary economies are and how economists claim economists are unnecessary to run an economy, I wonder why economists even exist.

The first thing a rational economist would do is tell the government to fire all economists and stop accrediting economics degrees.

I find it interesting that they only analyzed texts that mention at least two cities, like this one:

> From Durhumit until Kanes I incurred expenses of 5 minas of refined (copper), I spent 3 minas of copper until Wahsusana, I acquired and spent small wares for a value of 4 shekels of silver. (Tablet AKT 8/145, lines 24–29)

Because I know some local businesses here that are based in city X would not mention this fact in the books, at least not for every transaction. They would write something like 'Got shipment from Y' or 'Sent for repairs to Z' etc.

They also exclude texts that mention Assur, which is the largest city there

> We exclude Assur, the home city of the Assyrians, from our automated search. First, the word Assur is also the name of the main Assyrian deity and occurs very often as an element of personal names. Second, the city of Assur is often referred to as simply alum — “the City” (comparable in use to references to the financial district of London)

So very cool work, and it can be improved upon too!

> Wall Street calls it securitization. The merchants of Assur called it Tuesday.

was the give away for me.