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The Myth of the Robber Barons with Burt Folsom

Foundation for Economic Education · lecture · Watch on YouTube

World historyMicroeconomics & behavioral economicsUniversity lectures & courses

What it is

Hillsdale historian Burt Folsom lectures at a 2011 seminar on the 'robber barons' of the Gilded Age. He argues that figures like Vanderbilt and Rockefeller were market entrepreneurs rather than monopolists.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN people offer it as a free-market counterpoint to the standard robber baron narrative.

  • 2 people recommended it
  • 2 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2014, last 2020

What HN commenters said

  1. “Here's at least a bit of an antidote”

    Offered as an antidote to the article's thesis.

    timtas, 2014-07 · Recommendation · in “Free markets killed capitalism”

  2. “Burton Folsom on the myth of robber barons and the great american entrepreneurs of the 19th century.”

    Folsom on robber barons myth and 19th century entrepreneurs.

    rollinDyno, 2020-03 · Recommendation · in “Ask HN: Share your favourite talks on YouTube”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: robber barons, rockefeller, vanderbilt, free market, economic history

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