No Economic Growth in Westeros

This video shows Westeros/King’s Landing in the House of the Dragon Series and in the Game of Thrones series, which was 200 years later. The cities are strikingly similar, indicating there was no economic growth in these 200 years. This is wildly different than what we’ve seen in most of the world over the past …

The Master’s Shadow

Season 4, Episode 10: In this clip, a former slave asks Daenerys to allow him to sell himself back to his master, citing poverty and problems with current benefits to the newly freed. This is related to the idea of path dependency, Path dependency is the idea that history matters: it’s easier or more cost-effective …

Doran’s Choice: The Cost of War Over Wealth

Season 5 Episode 9: Prince Doran Martell decides to ‘break bread’ with the Lannisters instead of waging war over past grievances. Ellaria Sand questions his decision, but Doran explains the cost of war. This is similar to the broken window fallacy. The broken window fallacy argues that spending money on infrastructure and goods that have …

Tywin’s Trap: Forcing Lady Tyrell’s Hand

Season 3 Episode 6: Tywin negotiates with Lady Tyrell to have her daughter marry Loras to Cersei. Lady Tyrell opposes, but then Tywin says he’d force Loras to join the Kings Guard if Lady Tyrell refused. Tywin decreased his Lady Tyrell’s Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement (BATNA). When that happens, Lady Tyrell accepts the …

Cersei’s Debt Dilemma: The Cost of Loans and Interest”

Season 5 Episode 9: Mace Tyrell and a representative from the Iron Bank are discussing the ethics of charging interest for loans. It is noted that high interest payments are seen by some as distasteful and there are threats of legal actions for higher interest payments. Throughout history, in fact, there are times where certain …

Bran’s Insight: Climbing the Chaos Ladder

Season 7 Episode 4: When there is creative destruction – i.e., new industries are formed and help make old jobs and industries obsolete, it can be chaotic. Bran tells Little Finger in this clip that “chaos is a ladder”, which is certainly true for career opportunities for those who enter into organizations and markets when …

Mace Tyrell and the Iron Bank’s Investing Strategy

Season 7, Episode 3: The Iron Bank of Braavos discusses their activity with the Master of Coin Mace Tyrell and states “we don’t make bets. We invest in endeavors we deem to be successful.” This highlights how banks try to make a profit where the odds are in their favor as opposed to different forms …

Cersei and the Callable Bonds

Season 7 Episode 4: Cersei invades Highgarden, coming into possession of much gold and with it she pays off the kingdom’s debts to the Iron Bank of Bravos. The Iron Bank had become fond of the interest payments the kingdom’s debts were building up and by paying off the debt the interest payments ended. This …