How Serfdom Hardwired Extractive Institutions into the Russian Economy

Serfdom's Lasting Grip: How Russia's Past Shaped its Economy

Just think: vast, sprawling estates under an unforgiving sun, the rhythmic toil of peasants bound to the land not by choice, but by birthright. This was the reality for millions in Russia for centuries, a system known as serfdom, and its shadow stretches deep into the very fabric of Russia’s economic and institutional DNA. For … Read more

The Great Emu War: When Australia Declared War on Birds (and Lost!)

The Great Emu War: Australia's Humiliating Battle Against Birds

Picture this scenario: the year is 1932. The Australian outback, vast and unforgiving, is facing an invasion. Not of soldiers or tanks, but of feathered adversaries – a colossal population of emus, numbering in the tens of thousands. These flightless giants, with their powerful legs and insatiable appetites, were descending upon the farmlands of Western … Read more

The Dancing Plague of 1518: Europe’s Mysterious Silent Epidemic

The Dancing Plague of 1518: Strasbourg's Mysterious Silent Epidemic

Let us envision: Strasbourg, July 1518. The sun beats down on cobblestone streets, but the usual sounds of a bustling medieval city are replaced by a chilling, rhythmic thudding. A lone woman, later known as Frau Troffea, is in the throes of an uncontrollable dance. Her arms flail, her body twists, and her feet pound … Read more