Masters of Money

Originally broadcast on the BBC in 2012, this three-part documentary series features a unique premise: trying to guess how three of the most influential figures in economics—John Maynard Keynes, Friedrich A. Hayek, and Karl Marx—would have viewed the 2008 economic crash and how they might have charted a course for global recovery. Narrated by former BBC economics editor Stephanie Flanders—a brisk and insightful commentator—each episode offers an intelligent consideration of the very different views presented by Keynes, Hayek, and Marx during their respective careers, while also determining what impact the men continue to have on current affairs. Although Flanders appears to have a personal favorite in Keynes, the segment on Marx is the most colorful, not least because few people today bother to have spirited discussions of Marxism in public forums. The series is peppered with colorful appearances by such diverse figures as Nobel laureate and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, former Congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul, and humorist P.J. O'Rourke. Extras include “Adventures in Economics” shorts, and a viewer's guide with articles on 20th-century economics and the 1929 Wall Street crash. A fascinating and entertaining “what if?” series, Masters of Money is highly recommended. [Note: this is also available in a three-volume set with public performance rights for $509.85 from Films Media Group at www.films.com.] Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)