Monopoly Rules!

publication date: Nov 17, 2008

At last it can be revealed just where the underlying economic principals of the banking bailout originated. Not Keynes, nor Marx or Galbraith, and certainly not Reganomics or Thatcheritte free-market theory. In fact, it seems we need look no further than the Parker Brothers board game, Monopoly. It can be seen how the inventors did a particularly good job of mimicking a government-regulated banking sector: the game comes complete with a single central bank, rules restricting lending competition, and the ability to inflate the currency.

Since it was patented in 1935, it is estimated some 750 million people have played the game, competing to acquire wealth through stylised economic activity involving the buying, renting, and trading of properties using play money.

No surprise then that Gordon Brown, Hank Paulson et al didn’t take long to get their big idea courtesy of the Monopoly official rule book, which clearly states that the central bank never goes bankrupt. If the Bank runs out of money, the rules state, the Banker may issue as much as needed by writing on any ordinary paper. To continue playing, use slips of paper to keep track of each player's banking transactions until the bank has enough paper money to operate again.