Bibliograph

A world of chance, betting on religion, games, Wall Street, Reuven Brenner, Gabrielle A. Brenner, Aaron Brown

Type

Label

A world of chance, betting on religion, games, Wall Street, Reuven Brenner, Gabrielle A. Brenner, Aaron Brown

Language

eng

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

A world of chance

Medium

electronic resource

Nature of contents

dictionaries

Oclc number

289117368

Responsibility statement

Reuven Brenner, Gabrielle A. Brenner, Aaron Brown

Series statement

Cambridge Social Sciences eBooks

Sub title

betting on religion, games, Wall Street

Summary

Although financial markets often try to distance themselves from gambling, the two factors have far more in common than usually thought. When, historically, there were no financial institutions such as banks, lotteries constituted the ways by which expensive items were disposed of, and governments raised money quickly. Gambling tables fulfilled roles that venture capital and banking do today. 'Gamblers' created clearinghouses and sustained liquidity. When those gamblers bet on price distributions in futures markets, they were redefined as 'speculators'. Today they are called 'hedge fund managers' or 'bankers'. Though the names have changed, the actions undertaken have essentially stayed the same. This book shows how discussion on 'chance', 'risk', 'gambling', 'insurance', and 'speculation' illuminates where societies stood, where we are today, and where we may be heading.--, Provided by publisher

Table Of Contents

From religion to risk management: what to do when facing uncertainty? / Reaven Brenner, Gabrielle A. Brenner -- Anything wrong with gambling as a pastime? / Reuven Brenner, Gabrielle A. Brenner -- Are you rich? Risk-taking and gambling, or the leapfrogging instinct / Reuven Brenner, Gabrielle A. Brenner -- Betting on futures and creating prices / Reuven Brenner -- Gambling as banking: poker, junk bonds, and central banks / Reuven Brenner, Aaron Brown -- Lottery is a taxation, and heav'n be prais'd, it is easily rais'd / Reuven Brenner, Gabrielle A. Brenner -- Politics and prohibitions; or, what's a good tax anyway? / Reuven Brenner -- How gamblers and risk-takers correct the future / Reuven Brenner, Gabrielle A. Brenner -- Gambling and risk-taking: the leapfrogging instinct / Reuven Brenner -- Human nature and the civilizing process / Reuven Brenner -- A statistical profile of gamblers / Reuven Brenner, Gabrielle A. Brenner, Claude Montmarquette

Contributor

Creator