Economix

  1789 – Storming of the Bastille Event : French revolutionaries stormed the Bastille prison in Paris. Economic Impact : Marked the collapse of feudal privileges and led to sweeping reforms in taxation, land ownership, and labor rights. It laid the groundwork for modern economic structures in France. 1798 – Sedition Act Passed in the U.S. Event : The U.S. government enacted the Sedition Act, criminalizing criticism of the government. Economic Impact : Reflected tensions in early American politics and had implications for press freedom and public discourse, which indirectly influenced economic policy and investor confidence. 1853 –  Commodore Perry’s Visit to Japan Event : U.S. naval officer Matthew Perry arrived in Tokyo Bay. Economic Impact : Though not immediately on July 14, his visit initiated trade relations that ended Japan’s isolation and opened its economy to global commerce. 1931 – South Dakota Grasshopper Plague Event : Governor Warren Green pleaded for federal ...

By Economix I n July 1997, a decision to float Thailand’s baht triggered a financial tsunami that would engulf much of East and Southeast Asia. Known as the Asian Financial Crisis , it was more than a currency collapse—it was an unmasking of systemic fragilities and a harsh lesson in global interconnectivity. From shuttered finance companies in Bangkok to soaring unemployment in Jakarta and international bailouts negotiated under pressure, the crisis forced a reckoning in both policy and practice. This investigation explores not only the causes and course of the crisis but also the reforms it catalyzed—and how those reforms continue to shape the global financial order. The Origins of the Crisis: Thailand as Ground Zero The origins of the crisis lay in Thailand’s overheated economy . Throughout the early 1990s, the country enjoyed rapid growth fueled by foreign capital inflows , much of it speculative and short-term. Real estate and equity markets ballooned, as banks provided unchecked...